Sensory processing in autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of complex, heterogeneous, and pervasive neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by diverse manifestations including impairment in social abilities, decreased or disordered verbal communications, and restricted or repetitive behaviors.1 Abnormalities in sensory perception and processing have long been recognized in up to 90% of individuals diagnosed with ASD.2 These observations have been ascribed to alterations in central sensory processing, especially in the multimodal integration of sensory information.3 However, given the pervasiveness of ASD, the possibility of peripheral sensory nervous system (PNSs) dysfunction should be considered as well. Evidence of enteric nervous system as well as auditory changes4,5 has raised this intriguing possibility.