Inhibitie en sensorische gevoeligheid in volwassenen met autisme1

Abstract

This current article describes the results and conclusions of the PhD-thesis (2014- 2018) of the first author. During these four years, the University of Amsterdam and the dr. Leo Kannerhuis (specialized center for people with autism) have collaborated in several studies to examine the relationship between psychophysiological measures, specifically heart rate variability and skin conductance, and autism symptoms in adults with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The main question was whether individual differences in inhibition and sensory sensitivity in adults with ASD could be explained by the way the autonomic nervous system functions and reacts. More knowledge on which factors might contribute to the large individual differences seen in ASD, could in time lead to more specialized and personally adjusted treatments. Besides these studies on inhibition and sensory sensitivity, we have also validated an autism-specific sensory sensitivities questionnaire, which is available for the clinical practice.