Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors, Sensor Processing and Cognitive Style in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Many individuals with autism have a tendency to focus on detail. It is often they will focus on one thing at a time or repeat behaviors over a period of time. These repeated behaviors or focus to detail is suggested to be a cognitive style which may have a presence of stereotyped routines, repetitive interests, and behaviors that relate to sensory abnormalities.
29 children with high functioning autism completed the Embedded Figure Test and their parents completed the Short Sensory Profile and Childhood Routines Inventory. Correlations were found between sensory abnormalities and amount of restricted and repetitive behaviors reported. Some individuals performed very high in rote memory or visuospatial processing. Studies of sensory processing found over 90% of individuals had high rates of abnormalities including hyper-sensitivity, hyposensitivity, and sensory overload. Many individuals with autism have struggle with filtering out sensory information from he environment. Heightened sensitivity to elements in the environment may underlie a preference of sameness. High levels of of restricted and repetitive behaviors were connected with a superior performance on the EFT. There may be a connection between cognitive style and repetitiveness. Preoccupations with non-functional elements such as odor, texture, and vibration were exhibited in restricted, repetitive, and and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Some restricted and repetitive behaviors may be undertaken to manage their unusual sensory processing. There are relationships between sensory abnormalities and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. A detail-focused cognitive style may be involved.
A Short Sensory Profile was conducted and parent rate the frequency with which their child responds to various sensory experiences everyday. The Childhood Routines Inventory was developed to assess compulsive life behaviors and recorded the frequency and intensity. This test shows the adherence to routines and desire for sameness. The Embedded Figures Test assess visual-spatial cognitive style. Participants must locate a previously seen figure hidden figure within a large complex abstract design.
All three tests found that individuals with autism are reported to show significant numbers of types of restricted and repetitive behaviors. The items that showed a high number were "prefer to have things done in a particular way", prefer the same household schedule or routine everyday", and "strongly prefer to stick to one game or activity rather than change to a new one". According to these surveys these individuals also expressed difficulties in working with background noise. Children with more sensory processing abnormalities show more restricted and repetitive behaviors. Relationships were found between number and frequency and intensity of behaviors and tactile and sensitivity and visual auditory sensitivity. Restricted and repetitive behaviors are more related to hyper-responsiveness. Individuals who demonstrate a detail focused cognitive style have a number of different restricted and repetitive behaviors.
The study did find sensory processing abnormalities did not predict performance on the cognitive task and measure to focus. The significant relationship comes from the presence of sensory abnormalities and restricted and repetitive behaviors.
I always found sensory processing with individuals with autism fascinating. I would like to learn more about sensory processing among autism. I never thought it was due to a cognitive style. After reading this article it was good to see the factors of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. I want to learn more about the sensory issues among young children. I wish this article discussed more about handling these sensory issues and ways to work with sensory issues.
Chen, Y., Rodgers, J., & McConachie, H. (2009). Restricted and repetitive behaviours, sensory processing and cognitive style in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 39(4), 635-642.
29 children with high functioning autism completed the Embedded Figure Test and their parents completed the Short Sensory Profile and Childhood Routines Inventory. Correlations were found between sensory abnormalities and amount of restricted and repetitive behaviors reported. Some individuals performed very high in rote memory or visuospatial processing. Studies of sensory processing found over 90% of individuals had high rates of abnormalities including hyper-sensitivity, hyposensitivity, and sensory overload. Many individuals with autism have struggle with filtering out sensory information from he environment. Heightened sensitivity to elements in the environment may underlie a preference of sameness. High levels of of restricted and repetitive behaviors were connected with a superior performance on the EFT. There may be a connection between cognitive style and repetitiveness. Preoccupations with non-functional elements such as odor, texture, and vibration were exhibited in restricted, repetitive, and and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Some restricted and repetitive behaviors may be undertaken to manage their unusual sensory processing. There are relationships between sensory abnormalities and restrictive and repetitive behaviors. A detail-focused cognitive style may be involved.
A Short Sensory Profile was conducted and parent rate the frequency with which their child responds to various sensory experiences everyday. The Childhood Routines Inventory was developed to assess compulsive life behaviors and recorded the frequency and intensity. This test shows the adherence to routines and desire for sameness. The Embedded Figures Test assess visual-spatial cognitive style. Participants must locate a previously seen figure hidden figure within a large complex abstract design.
All three tests found that individuals with autism are reported to show significant numbers of types of restricted and repetitive behaviors. The items that showed a high number were "prefer to have things done in a particular way", prefer the same household schedule or routine everyday", and "strongly prefer to stick to one game or activity rather than change to a new one". According to these surveys these individuals also expressed difficulties in working with background noise. Children with more sensory processing abnormalities show more restricted and repetitive behaviors. Relationships were found between number and frequency and intensity of behaviors and tactile and sensitivity and visual auditory sensitivity. Restricted and repetitive behaviors are more related to hyper-responsiveness. Individuals who demonstrate a detail focused cognitive style have a number of different restricted and repetitive behaviors.
The study did find sensory processing abnormalities did not predict performance on the cognitive task and measure to focus. The significant relationship comes from the presence of sensory abnormalities and restricted and repetitive behaviors.
I always found sensory processing with individuals with autism fascinating. I would like to learn more about sensory processing among autism. I never thought it was due to a cognitive style. After reading this article it was good to see the factors of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity. I want to learn more about the sensory issues among young children. I wish this article discussed more about handling these sensory issues and ways to work with sensory issues.
Chen, Y., Rodgers, J., & McConachie, H. (2009). Restricted and repetitive behaviours, sensory processing and cognitive style in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders, 39(4), 635-642.
Comments
Post a Comment