In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

K. MacLennan; S. O’Brien; T. Tavassoli

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3

In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

K. MacLennan, S. O’Brien, T. Tavassoli

Department of Psychology

University of Reading

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

36 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Autistic adults commonly experience sensory reactivity differences. Sensory hyperreactivity is frequently researched, whilst hyporeactivity and seeking, and experiences across domains, e.g., vision, are often neglected. Therefore, we aimed to understand more about the sensory experiences of autistic adults. We conducted a mixed-methods study, co-produced with stakeholders; recruiting 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey. Firstly, quantitative results and content analysis enhanced our understanding of sensory input/contexts associated with sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities. Secondly, thematic analysis developed themes relating to ‘Outcomes’, ‘Control’, ‘Tolerance and management’, and ‘The role of other people’, informing a theoretical model of sensory reactivity differences in autistic adults. These findings have implications for support services and improving quality of life for autistic adults.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3061-3075
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	52
Early online date	13 Jul 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3
Publication status	Published - 31 Jul 2022

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the autistic adults who participated in this study and those who provided feedback in the development of this project. Especially, to Aimee Fletcher, Jack Welch, Charlie Murphy and Hannah Steel for providing feedback on the findings and interpretations. Additionally, thanks to Anthony Haffey and Autism Berkshire for helping with recruitment. K. MacLennan and T. Tavassoli are funded by MQ and Autistica.

Access to Document

10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{478272179a14456bbf95306a8ee741e7,

title = "In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults",

abstract = "Autistic adults commonly experience sensory reactivity differences. Sensory hyperreactivity is frequently researched, whilst hyporeactivity and seeking, and experiences across domains, e.g., vision, are often neglected. Therefore, we aimed to understand more about the sensory experiences of autistic adults. We conducted a mixed-methods study, co-produced with stakeholders; recruiting 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey. Firstly, quantitative results and content analysis enhanced our understanding of sensory input/contexts associated with sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities. Secondly, thematic analysis developed themes relating to {\textquoteleft}Outcomes{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Control{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}Tolerance and management{\textquoteright}, and {\textquoteleft}The role of other people{\textquoteright}, informing a theoretical model of sensory reactivity differences in autistic adults. These findings have implications for support services and improving quality of life for autistic adults.",

author = "K. MacLennan and S. O{\textquoteright}Brien and T. Tavassoli",

year = "2022",

month = jul,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3",

language = "English",

volume = "52",

pages = "3061--3075",

journal = "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders",

issn = "0162-3257",

publisher = "Springer",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - In Our Own Words

T2 - The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

AU - MacLennan, K.

AU - O’Brien, S.

AU - Tavassoli, T.

PY - 2022/7/31

Y1 - 2022/7/31

N2 - Autistic adults commonly experience sensory reactivity differences. Sensory hyperreactivity is frequently researched, whilst hyporeactivity and seeking, and experiences across domains, e.g., vision, are often neglected. Therefore, we aimed to understand more about the sensory experiences of autistic adults. We conducted a mixed-methods study, co-produced with stakeholders; recruiting 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey. Firstly, quantitative results and content analysis enhanced our understanding of sensory input/contexts associated with sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities. Secondly, thematic analysis developed themes relating to ‘Outcomes’, ‘Control’, ‘Tolerance and management’, and ‘The role of other people’, informing a theoretical model of sensory reactivity differences in autistic adults. These findings have implications for support services and improving quality of life for autistic adults.

AB - Autistic adults commonly experience sensory reactivity differences. Sensory hyperreactivity is frequently researched, whilst hyporeactivity and seeking, and experiences across domains, e.g., vision, are often neglected. Therefore, we aimed to understand more about the sensory experiences of autistic adults. We conducted a mixed-methods study, co-produced with stakeholders; recruiting 49 autistic adults who completed an online survey. Firstly, quantitative results and content analysis enhanced our understanding of sensory input/contexts associated with sensory hyperreactivity, hyporeactivity, and seeking across modalities. Secondly, thematic analysis developed themes relating to ‘Outcomes’, ‘Control’, ‘Tolerance and management’, and ‘The role of other people’, informing a theoretical model of sensory reactivity differences in autistic adults. These findings have implications for support services and improving quality of life for autistic adults.

U2 - 10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3

DO - 10.1007/s10803-021-05186-3

M3 - Article

SN - 0162-3257

VL - 52

SP - 3061

EP - 3075

JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

ER -

In Our Own Words: The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this