Neural Mechanisms of Sensory Processing Anomalies

Aalborg University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Sensory Processing Disorder; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Transiently Evoked Otoacoustic Emission; Diagnostic Test: Clinical tests of ASD; Diagnostic Test: Clinical tests of ADHD; Behavioral: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V); Behavioral: Discrimination Acuity test; Other: Electroencephalography (EEG) with auditory or vibrotactile stimuli; Other: Questionnaires

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06234033

N-20200091

Details and patient eligibility

About

To assess sensory processing anomalies in neurotypical children, children with autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly within the vibrotactile and auditory sensory modalities.

Full description

Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have been associated with a high prevalence of sensory processing anomalies. With the update of the diagnostic manuals International Classification of Diseases eleventh revision (ICD-11) and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), more emphasis has been given to the sensory symptoms of both these disorders. The demand of reliable and valid quantitative measurements of sensory processing anomalies are therefore increasing as such metrics has the potential to assist clinical decision-making e.g., in (differential) diagnostics and treatment response evaluation and prediction. The present observational study focuses on auditory and tactile processing. Hearing and touch are two of the most frequency reported modalities in which individuals with ASD experience sensory anomalies. In addition, adequate auditory and tactile processing are presumed fundamental in the emergence of various social and cognitive functions such as the development of language. Elucidating the sensory symptoms by means of psychophysics, neuroimaging, and quantitative measures of peripheral sensory organs could elucidate the underlying (neuro)physiology of sensory anomalies in ASD and ADHD.

The present project aims to elucidate the physiological substrates of abnormal sensory processing by conducting a battery of tests in children with ASD, ADHD, and neurotypical children. First, a series of questionnaires will be administered to acquire a (clinical) description of the participants (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V); Autism Quotient (AQ, child version); Childhood Behavioral Checklist (CBCL 6-16); ADHD-Ration Scale (ADHD-RS); Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, 2nd edition (ADOS-2); Use of pharmacotherapy). A standardized caregiver-reported sensory profile questionnaire will serve as the primary outcome (Sensory Profile 2, Child version). Second, transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions will be measured in order to account for peripheral mechanisms of hearing as well as their contralateral suppression to measure efferent auditory system functioning. Third, a psychophysic task will be conducted for the purpose of estimating the just-noticeable difference to auditory loudness and vibrotactile displacement intensities followed by a subjective categorical loudness scale experiment. Finally, two electroencephalographic experiments will be performed: a frequency tagging paradigm with interspersed pitch oddballs and a classical sensory gating paradigm using vibrotactile stimuli and auditory clicks.

Enrollment: 75 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 8 to 15 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Clinically diagnosed with either ADHD, ASD, or no diagnosis (typical development)
• Between 8-15 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Familiar history of schizophrenia and depression.
• Epilepsy, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury
• Musculoskeletal illnesses
• Hearing or visual impairment that cannot be corrected
• Lack of ability to cooperate
• Parents cannot read Danish

Trial design

75 participants in 3 patient groups

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Description:

Children with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder made by a qualified psychiatrist.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaires

Other: Electroencephalography (EEG) with auditory or vibrotactile stimuli

Behavioral: Discrimination Acuity test

Behavioral: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)

Diagnostic Test: Clinical tests of ASD

Diagnostic Test: Transiently Evoked Otoacoustic Emission

Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Description:

Children with a confirmed diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder made by a qualified psychiatrist.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaires

Other: Electroencephalography (EEG) with auditory or vibrotactile stimuli

Behavioral: Discrimination Acuity test

Behavioral: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)

Diagnostic Test: Clinical tests of ADHD

Diagnostic Test: Transiently Evoked Otoacoustic Emission

Neurotypical children

Description:

Children without a known or presumed psychiatric diagnosis.

Treatment:

Other: Questionnaires

Other: Electroencephalography (EEG) with auditory or vibrotactile stimuli

Behavioral: Discrimination Acuity test

Behavioral: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V)

Diagnostic Test: Transiently Evoked Otoacoustic Emission