The Experience of Itch in Autistic Adults: An Online Survey

Background: The self-reported experience of itch for autistic people has not been studied. Anecdote, theory, and emerging research suggest that itch experience is different in autistic people, with negative consequences. Methods: An online survey was completed by participants who self-categorized as diagnosed autistic ( n = 158), self-identified autistic ( n = 37), or not autistic ( n = 85). We asked about three categories of itch, namely, spontaneous, provoked, and itch caused by a medical condition, with questions focused on severity, timing and duration, and impact on daily activities. Results: Across all categories of itch there was a pattern of greater severity, duration, and impact in diagnosed autistic people compared with non-autistic people. Those with self-identified autism largely fell between the diagnosed autistic and not autistic groups. Itch severity was associated with self-reported autistic traits. As expected, we found more dermatitis-related itch in autistic respondents, but this did not drive differences in spontaneous and provoked itch. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the self-reported itch experience of autistic people is more severe, longer lasting, and of greater daily relevance, differences that cannot be attributed to the higher prevalence of skin dermatitis found in autism. Future studies are required to understand itch experience within the broader picture of sensory differences, and to develop management strategies for what can be a highly morbid experience.