Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28825635›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2017

Assessing Sensory Processing Dysfunction in Adults and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Scoping Review.

Denise DuBois, Erin Lymer, Barbara E Gibson, Pushpal Desarkar, Emily Nalder

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 45 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
45citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

45 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Update of a Meta-analysis of Sensory Symptoms in ASD: A New Decade of Research.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2019
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. The Convergent Validity Between Two Adult Self-Report Sensory Processing Scales.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapie · 2026
    Article
  5. Beyond the Outburst: Charting a New Frontier for Understanding and Treating Irritability in Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026
    Review
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  11. Review
  12. Intact Audiovisual Spatial Integration in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2025
    Article
  13. Review
  14. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Denise DuBoisRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. denise.dubois@mail.utoronto.ca.
Erin LymerAdult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada. erin.lymer@camh.ca.
Barbara E GibsonDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. barbara.gibson@utoronto.ca.
Pushpal DesarkarAdult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada. pushpal.desarkar@camh.ca.
Emily NalderAdult Neurodevelopmental Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada. emily.nalder@utoronto.ca.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Sensory reactivity is a diagnostic criterion for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and has been associated with poorer functional outcomes, behavioral difficulties, and autism severity across the lifespan. Yet, there is little consensus on best practice approaches to assessing sensory processing dysfunction in adolescents and adults with ASD. Despite growing evidence that sensory symptoms persist into adolescence and adulthood, there is a lack of norms for older age groups, and pediatric assessments may not target appropriate functional outcomes or environments. This review identified approaches used to measure sensory processing in the scientific literature, and to describe and compare these approaches to current best practice guidelines that can be incorporated into evidence-based practice. Method and Analysis: A search of scientific databases and grey literature (professional association and ASD society websites), from January 1987-May 2017, uncovered 4769 articles and 12 clinical guidelines. Study and sample characteristics were extracted, charted, and categorized according to assessment approach.

resultsThere were 66 articles included after article screening. Five categories of assessment approaches were identified: Self- and Proxy-Report Questionnaires, Psychophysical Assessment, Direct Behavioral Observation, Qualitative Interview Techniques, and Neuroimaging/EEG. Sensory research to date has focused on individuals with high-functioning ASD, most commonly through the use of self-report questionnaires. The Adolescent and Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) is the most widely used assessment measure (

Indexed as

adultautism spectrum disorderbest practiceclinical guidelinesevidence-based practiceinterdisciplinarysensory processingsensory reactivity

Identifiers

PMID28825635
PMCPMC5575628

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.