Integrating parent report, observed behavior, and physiological measures to identify biomarkers of sensory over-responsivity in autism

Results support prior findings that increased HR responses to aversive stimuli is related to both ASD and SOR. Furthermore, observed and parent-reported SOR interacted to predict HR, suggesting that a multi-method approach may best capture the extent of SOR for an individual. However, observed SOR measures may be most accurate for ASD youth who are less likely to inhibit their behavioral responses. This study illustrates the importance of integrating multiple measures of sensory reactivity to identify SOR. HR measures of sensory reactivity have the potential to serve as a biomarker of SOR across a diverse range of individuals.