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Evaluation ViewAttendees 6

Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders
Symposia

Symposium 03 - Sensory sensitivity in autism: From assessment to accommodation

Friday, November 15, 2024
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST
Location: Grand Ballroom I/J, Level 5, Downtown Marriott
CE: 1

Keywords: Cognitive Processes, fMRI, Autism Spectrum Disorders
Level of Familiarity: Basic
Recommended Readings: White SW, Siegle GJ, Kana R, Rothman EF. (2023). Pathways to Psychopathology Among Autistic Adults. Current Psychiatry Reports. 25(8):315-325. doi: 10.1007/s11920-023-01429-5. Epub 2023 Jun 28. PMID: 37378790.,   DeBoth, K.K., Reynolds, S. (2017). A systematic review of sensory-based autism subtypes. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 36, 44-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2017.01.005.,   Marco EJ, Hinkley LB, Hill SS, Nagarajan SS. Sensory processing in autism: a review of neurophysiologic findings. Pediatr Res. 2011 May;69(5 Pt 2):48R-54R. doi: 10.1203/PDR.0b013e3182130c54. PMID: 21289533; PMCID: PMC3086654.,   Beck KB, Conner CM, Breitenfeldt KE, Northrup JB, White SW, Mazefsky CA. Assessment and Treatment of Emotion Regulation Impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Life Span: Current State of the Science and Future Directions. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 Jul;29(3):527-542. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2020.02.003. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32471600; PMCID: PMC7810097.,  

Although sensory reactivity is part of the DSM diagnostic criteria of autism, it remains poorly understood mechanistically and in terms of how it affects outcome, leaving it a present but hard to address elephant in the therapy room.  Its epidemiology and variation among autistic people has not been well characterized, its mechanisms are not well delineated, and there are few guidelines on how to accommodate it in treatment. Thus, in this symposium we will address each of these issues to better inform attendees about where and how sensory sensitivity can fit into research and clinical practice. 

Stephanie Furhmann will present epidemiological research on domains of sensory sensitivity in autistic children and young adults, as well as domains recognized by adults as likely having been important in their upbringing. Greg Siegle will describe work on the neural basis of sensory sensitivity in an ongoing neuroimaging study of autistic adults, with the conclusion that some domains (e.g., tactile stimulation) have the potential to mediate the overwhelming effects of stimulation in other domains (e.g., visual stimulation) in the context of a large Autism Center of Excellence project which allows conclusions about links between sensory sensitivity and clinical trajectories. Kelly Beck will describe ways that sensory sensitivity is being accommodated in a large PCORI trial of a novel therapy (“EASE”), in comparison to the Unified Protocol. Each presenter will discuss their theoretical conception of sensory sensitivity, how their observations translate to informing public health / clinical practice, and limitations of their conceptions and considerations with regard to diverse populations. Presenters will specifically highlight their own diversity in nationality and neurotypicality and how these features inform their research.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Explain the magnitude of functional impairment associated with sensitivity to sensory factors in both non-autistic and autistic individuals
  2. Identify neural mechanisms of visual sensory sensitivity and their potential moderation using other sensory modalities
  3. List ways in which therapists can assess and accommodate sensory sensitivity in their practice
  4. Describe the range and nature of individual differences in sensory sensitivity in autistic and non-autistic individuals
  5. Explain how diverse groups may be differently affected by sensory sensitivity, and how accommodations may account for cultural factors

Presentations:

  • 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST
    (SYM 3) Vibration Moderates Neural and Subjective Sensitivity to Overwhelming Visual Information in Autistic Adults

    Speaker: Greg J. Siegle, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

    Co-author: Yukari Takarae, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of California, Davis

    Co-author: Carla Mazefsky, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

  • 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST
    (SYM 3) Subjective Sensory Sensitivity in Autistic Adolescents and Adults

    Speaker: Stephanie Fuhrmann, None (she/her/hers) – White Unicorn, association for the development of an autistic-friendly environment e.V.

    Co-author: Sabine Schwager, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Humboldt University of Berlin

    Co-author: Benecke Mark, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – International Forensic Research & Consulting

    Co-author: Lukas Gerhards, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – Humboldt University of Berlin

    Co-author: Jochen Kleres, M.A. (he/him/his) – Königin Elisabeth Herzberge Hospital

    Co-author: Michel Knigge, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Potsdam

    Co-author: Jana Kumert, B.A. (she/her/hers) – Humboldt University of Berlin

    Co-author: Vera Moser, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – Goethe-Universität Frankfurt

    Co-author: Greg J. Siegle, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

  • 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST
    (SYM 3) Accommodating Sensory Sensitivity in Psychotherapy: The Emotion Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE) Program

    Speaker: Kelly B. Beck, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh

    Co-author: Susan White, ABPP, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – The University of Alabama

    Co-author: Caitlin M. Conner, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

    Co-author: Greg J. Siegle, Ph.D. (he/him/his) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

    Co-author: Stephanie Fuhrmann, None (she/her/hers) – White Unicorn, association for the development of an autistic-friendly environment e.V.

    Co-author: Carla Mazefsky, Ph.D. (she/her/hers) – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine