Sensory Responses in Autistic Individuals—A Narrative Review

ABSTRACT The first clinical descriptions of autism from the late 1960s mentioned sensory dysregulation as one of the commonly reported findings among autistic individuals, yet, it was not until 2013 that they were included as part of the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the diagnostic profile, as per the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐5). Abnormal sensory responses are known to be an early clinical feature of ASD, which can severely impact social functioning and also cause some deficits in brain maturation. The lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying these abnormalities may have caused them to be overlooked in common clinical practice. This review discusses the current knowledge regarding the manner in which different sensory modalities are affected, and the implications they have on the daily functioning of autistic individuals, as well as the possible neural mechanisms underlying them. It was concluded that certain changes can be made in the environment of these individuals that may provide comfort and help them adjust better into society, and further research should be done in this field in order to improve the quality of life of autistic individuals.