Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction
Abnormalities in olfactory function have been identified in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. However, little is known about olfactory function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aims to assess the olfactory profile...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/6/362 |
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| author | Julia R. Sweigert Tanya St. John Kristin Kawena Begay Greg E. Davis Jeffrey Munson Eric Shankland Annette Estes Stephen R. Dager Natalia M. Kleinhans |
| author_facet | Julia R. Sweigert Tanya St. John Kristin Kawena Begay Greg E. Davis Jeffrey Munson Eric Shankland Annette Estes Stephen R. Dager Natalia M. Kleinhans |
| author_sort | Julia R. Sweigert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abnormalities in olfactory function have been identified in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. However, little is known about olfactory function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aims to assess the olfactory profiles of children with ASD, compared to an age- and sex-matched comparison group of typically developing children and a second clinical control group consisting of non-ASD children with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD). Participants completed a battery of sensory and behavioral assessments including olfactory tasks (Sniffin’ Sticks Threshold Test and self-reported valence ratings for two target odorants (phenylethyl alcohol and vanillin) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test), and an autism evaluation (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2). Children with ASD showed intact odor detection with reduced odor identification ability. Poor odor identification was significantly correlated with autism symptom severity. Children with SPD demonstrated reduced odor detection and identification ability. These findings provide evidence for differential patterns of smell processing among ASD and non-ASD neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether the association of impaired olfaction and increased autism symptoms is due to shared etiology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:16:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7a273c609b124b78bb043eabe4cdca42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:16:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-7a273c609b124b78bb043eabe4cdca422023-11-20T03:25:29ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252020-06-0110636210.3390/brainsci10060362Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing DysfunctionJulia R. Sweigert0Tanya St. John1Kristin Kawena Begay2Greg E. Davis3Jeffrey Munson4Eric Shankland5Annette Estes6Stephen R. Dager7Natalia M. Kleinhans8Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USASchool of Education, University of Washington, Tacoma, WA 98402, USADepartment of Otolaryngology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USADepartment of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USAAbnormalities in olfactory function have been identified in a number of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. However, little is known about olfactory function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study aims to assess the olfactory profiles of children with ASD, compared to an age- and sex-matched comparison group of typically developing children and a second clinical control group consisting of non-ASD children with sensory processing dysfunction (SPD). Participants completed a battery of sensory and behavioral assessments including olfactory tasks (Sniffin’ Sticks Threshold Test and self-reported valence ratings for two target odorants (phenylethyl alcohol and vanillin) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test), and an autism evaluation (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2). Children with ASD showed intact odor detection with reduced odor identification ability. Poor odor identification was significantly correlated with autism symptom severity. Children with SPD demonstrated reduced odor detection and identification ability. These findings provide evidence for differential patterns of smell processing among ASD and non-ASD neurodevelopmental disorders. Future studies are needed to determine whether the association of impaired olfaction and increased autism symptoms is due to shared etiology.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/6/362autism spectrum disordersensory processingolfactionsmell detectionsmell identificationPEA |
| spellingShingle | Julia R. Sweigert Tanya St. John Kristin Kawena Begay Greg E. Davis Jeffrey Munson Eric Shankland Annette Estes Stephen R. Dager Natalia M. Kleinhans Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction Brain Sciences autism spectrum disorder sensory processing olfaction smell detection smell identification PEA |
| title | Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction |
| title_full | Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction |
| title_short | Characterizing Olfactory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction |
| title_sort | characterizing olfactory function in children with autism spectrum disorder and children with sensory processing dysfunction |
| topic | autism spectrum disorder sensory processing olfaction smell detection smell identification PEA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/10/6/362 |
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