Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults
BackgroundSensory processing differences have been shown to impact involvement in community activities. However, relatively little is known about how these differences affect community participation in autistic adults.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore how sensory processing pattern...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.876127/full |
| _version_ | 1828728118462906368 |
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| author | Nancy Bagatell Dara V. Chan Ya-Cing Syu Elena M. Lamarche Laura G. Klinger Laura G. Klinger |
| author_facet | Nancy Bagatell Dara V. Chan Ya-Cing Syu Elena M. Lamarche Laura G. Klinger Laura G. Klinger |
| author_sort | Nancy Bagatell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundSensory processing differences have been shown to impact involvement in community activities. However, relatively little is known about how these differences affect community participation in autistic adults.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore how sensory processing patterns of autistic adults impact community participation, including where people go, what they do, the amount of time in the community, and preferred locations.MethodsWe used data gathered from six autistic adults and their caregivers who participated in two studies. From Study 1, we reviewed results of the Adolescent and Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and transcripts from interviews with caregivers. From Study 2, we reviewed GPS tracking data and transcripts from structured interviews with autistic adults focused on community participation. We read transcript data, identified quotes related to sensory processing and community participation and constructed individual participant narratives which linked findings from interviews, AASP, and GPS tracking.ResultsParticipants included three males and three females ranging in age from 29 to 51. Each participant had a unique sensory processing profile that influenced where they went, the activities in which they engaged, how much time they spent in the community, and their preferred locations. Those whose sensory processing patterns indicated sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding described the experience of certain environments as overwhelming and fatiguing and thus spent less time in the community and visited fewer places than those with other sensory processing patterns.ConclusionResults highlight the importance of sensory processing, especially as it impacts participation in the community. Sensory processing patterns should be considered along with other personal and contextual factors when assessing community participation and personal sensory processing patterns should be matched with activities and environmental demands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:10:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfc59862485249fc8f14f527fa396b9f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:10:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfc59862485249fc8f14f527fa396b9f2022-12-22T03:29:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-06-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.876127876127Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic AdultsNancy Bagatell0Dara V. Chan1Ya-Cing Syu2Elena M. Lamarche3Laura G. Klinger4Laura G. Klinger5Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Department of Allied Health Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesDivision of Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, Department of Allied Health Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesDivision of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Department of Allied Health Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesTEACCH® Autism Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesTEACCH® Autism Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesBackgroundSensory processing differences have been shown to impact involvement in community activities. However, relatively little is known about how these differences affect community participation in autistic adults.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to explore how sensory processing patterns of autistic adults impact community participation, including where people go, what they do, the amount of time in the community, and preferred locations.MethodsWe used data gathered from six autistic adults and their caregivers who participated in two studies. From Study 1, we reviewed results of the Adolescent and Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) and transcripts from interviews with caregivers. From Study 2, we reviewed GPS tracking data and transcripts from structured interviews with autistic adults focused on community participation. We read transcript data, identified quotes related to sensory processing and community participation and constructed individual participant narratives which linked findings from interviews, AASP, and GPS tracking.ResultsParticipants included three males and three females ranging in age from 29 to 51. Each participant had a unique sensory processing profile that influenced where they went, the activities in which they engaged, how much time they spent in the community, and their preferred locations. Those whose sensory processing patterns indicated sensory sensitivity and sensory avoiding described the experience of certain environments as overwhelming and fatiguing and thus spent less time in the community and visited fewer places than those with other sensory processing patterns.ConclusionResults highlight the importance of sensory processing, especially as it impacts participation in the community. Sensory processing patterns should be considered along with other personal and contextual factors when assessing community participation and personal sensory processing patterns should be matched with activities and environmental demands.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.876127/fullcommunity participationsensory processingautismadultsgeographic positioning system |
| spellingShingle | Nancy Bagatell Dara V. Chan Ya-Cing Syu Elena M. Lamarche Laura G. Klinger Laura G. Klinger Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults Frontiers in Psychology community participation sensory processing autism adults geographic positioning system |
| title | Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults |
| title_full | Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults |
| title_fullStr | Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults |
| title_short | Sensory Processing and Community Participation in Autistic Adults |
| title_sort | sensory processing and community participation in autistic adults |
| topic | community participation sensory processing autism adults geographic positioning system |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.876127/full |
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