Reduced Habituation: A Key to Understanding Sensory Sensitivity in Autism

Abstract

Purpose: Atypical sensory processing is a core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and contributes to explaining many of its clinical manifestations. Previous research, primarily conducted in laboratory settings, has demonstrated a link between sensory sensitivity and sensory habituation. This study examined this relationship in everyday contexts using self-report instruments. Methods: A group of adults with ASD and a group of neurotypical controls completed the Sensory Habituation Questionnaire (S-Hab-Q), which assesses the ability to adapt to environmental stimuli across sensory modalities, along with the Sensory Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) and the Autistic Quotient (AQ), which measure the individual sensory sensitivity profile and autistic traits, respectively. In the group with ASD, we also explored the relationship between sensory profiles and cognitive functioning. Results: The results showed that participants with ASD required more time to habituate to sensory stimuli than neurotypical controls. S-Hab-Q scores correlated with SPQ and AQ scores in both groups, and the first association was more pronounced in the group with ASD. Specifically, the S-Hab-Q scores correlated with the Attention Switching, Attention to Detail and Communication subscales of the AQ and, in the group with ASD, with the interference score on the Stroop test. Conclusion: These findings revealed that a slower habituation rate was linked to greater sensory sensitivity and higher levels of autistic traits and suggest that sensory habituation also plays a role in cognitive and social functioning. Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering both sensory habituation and sensory sensitivity in diagnostic and intervention processes.