This report focuses on the emergence of and bidirectional effects between anxiety and sensory over-responsivity (SOR) in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Participants were 149 toddlers with ASD and their mothers, assessed at 2 annual time points. A cross-lag analysis showed that anxiety symptoms increased over time while SOR remained relatively stable. SOR positively predicted changes in anxiety over and above child age, autism symptom severity, NVDQ, and maternal anxiety, but anxiety did not predict changes in SOR. Results suggest that SOR emerges earlier than anxiety, and predicts later development of anxiety.

Background Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) affects many individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), often leading to stressful encounters during daily routines. Methods This study describes the associations between early SOR symptoms and the longitudinal course of restrictions in family life activities and parenting stress across three time points in families raising a child with ASD (n = 174). Covariates were child diagnostic severity, emotional problems, and maternal affective symptoms. At time 1 mean chronological age was 28.5 months. Children were administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL). Parents completed the Infant Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP), Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA), Beck Anxiety Index (BAI), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Inventory (CES-D) at time 1; and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) and Family Life Impairment Scale (FLIS) at the three annual time points. Results Latent Growth Curve Models indicated that higher SOR scores on the ITSP at time 1 were associated with higher initial levels of family life impairment and parenting stress and with a smaller magnitude of change over time. These associations were independent of severity of ADOS social-communication symptoms, MSEL composite score, ITSEA externalizing and anxiety symptoms, and maternal affective symptoms as measured by the BAI and CES-D. On average FLIS and PSI did not change over time however there was significant individual variability. Concurrently, SOR at time 1 explained 39–45% of the variance in family stress and impairment variables. Conclusions An evaluation of SOR should be integrated into the assessment of toddlers with ASD considering their role in family life impairment and stress.

Objective This study aimed to characterize clusters of children based on ADHD and sensory over-responsivity (SOR) symptoms, and to compare their markers. Method Parents of 922 infants completed the Infant–Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) Sensory Sensitivity, Attention, and Activity/Impulsivity scales at three time points during early childhood and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and SensOR inventory during elementary school age. Results Four school-age clusters emerged from the CBCL ADHD and SensOR scores: (a) elevated SOR symptoms only (n = 35); (b) elevated ADHD symptoms only (n = 38); (c) elevated ADHD and SOR symptoms (ADHD + S, n = 35); and (d) low ADHD and SOR symptoms (n = 814). The SOR and ADHD + S clusters had higher early Sensitivity scores than the ADHD and Low clusters. The ADHD and ADHD + S clusters differed from the SOR and Low clusters in their early Attention and Activity/Impulsivity scores. Conclusion SOR and ADHD symptoms occur independently and consistently over time.

Although it is well-established that young children experience significant psychopathology, diagnostic decisions continue to be challenging, in part due to the way impairment is understood, defined, and measured. Most existing clinical tools assess impairment in an individualized manner, whereas for many young children, impairment is more accurately conceptualized as a family-oriented, multidimensional construct, impacting various parental and family activities. Two studies were completed using the Family Life Impairment Scale (FLIS), a multidimensional parent-report measure of family and associated impairment designed for young children. In Study 1, factor analysis was used in a large (n = 945) representative sample (23-48 months of age). FLIS associations with measures of parent and child well-being were explored to investigate convergent validity. Study 2 was completed in a sample (n = 174) of young children (18-33 months of age) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders to explore factorial consistency in a clinical sample. Study 1 yielded evidence of a four-factor solution, including parent impairment (affecting parental well-being), family impairment (affecting family activities and routines), childcare impairment (affecting challenges with childcare), and positive growth (parental learning and growth associated with the child's problem). Evidence of convergent validity was also found, as factors were differentially associated with established measures of child symptoms and parent stress. Factor structure was supported in the clinical sample. Results support both the factorial structure and clinical utility of the FLIS for use across clinical and nonclinical populations of young children.