Sensory Family Accommodation for Autistic and Sensory Overresponsive Children: The Mediating Role of Parenting Distress Tolerance

Family sensory accommodation was more frequent among families of children with ASD or SOR and interfered more with child and family well-being. For clinical groups, being bothered by more sensations reduced parenting distress tolerance, which increased family accommodation. Plain-Language Summary: When children have strong reactions to sensory experiences, families often change their routines to prevent discomfort. This is called family sensory accommodation-when family members adjust their behaviors to avoid or minimize their child's sensory challenges and the associated distress. Although this may reduce stress in the short term, it can also reinforce anxiety and limit a child's ability to cope. We found that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder or sensory overresponsiveness were more likely to make these accommodations compared with parents of typically developing children. These accommodations were linked to greater disruptions in both child and family well-being. We also found that parents who had more difficulty managing their own stress were more likely to engage in family sensory accommodation. These findings highlight the need for occupational therapists to support families in reducing restrictive accommodations while helping children build independence and coping skills.