Relationship between social competence and sensory processing in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders

Purpose: This study examines the relationship between social competence and sensory processing in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. Methodology: Children, ages 6-10 (N = 36), with high functioning autism spectrum disorders were assessed using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Sensory Profile (SP). A bivariate correlational design was used to compare the scores (Spearman Rank Correlational Coefficient). Results: Significant differences were seen between mild to moderate and severe categories of SRS scores, based on Mann-Whitney U test (p < .05). Moderate to strong correlations were found between the SRS scores and all four sensory processing quadrant scores. Conclusions: This study adds a clearer understanding of the relationship between sensory processing and social competence for children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. The degree of correlation indicates that sensory processing is a function of severity within autism spectrum disorders and may be an important factor to consider when addressing the social performance of these children.