Sensory Problems
Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) either overreact or under-react to certain sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes. For example, some may:
- Dislike or show discomfort from a light touch or the feel of clothes on their skin
- Experience pain from certain sounds, like a vacuum cleaner, a ringing telephone, or a sudden storm; sometimes they will cover their ears and scream
- Have no reaction to intense cold or pain.
Researchers are trying to determine if these unusual reactions are related to differences in integrating multiple types of information from the senses.