Tactile Sensitivity and ADHD

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Citations for Tactile Sensitivity & ADHD Research

Primary Studies Referenced:

Gender Differences Studies:

  1. Bröring, T., Rommelse, N., Sergeant, J., & Scherder, E. (2008). Sex differences in tactile defensiveness in children with ADHD and their siblings. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 50(2), 129-133. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2007.02024.x
B_ring Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 50(2) 2008 u.pdf131.1 KB
  1. Goldsmith, H. H., Van Hulle, C. A., Arneson, C. L., Schreiber, J. E., & Gernsbacher, M. A. (2006). A population-based twin study of parentally reported tactile and auditory defensiveness in young children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34(3), 393-407.

2024 Adult ADHD Study:

  1. Frost-Karlsson, M., Capusan, A. J., Olausson, H., & Boehme, R. (2024). Altered somatosensory processing in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. BMC Psychiatry, 24, 533. doi:10.1186/s12888-024-06002-9
    2. s12888-024-06002-9.pdf1.9 MB

ADHD vs ASD Tactile Differences:

  1. He, J. L., Fuelscher, I., Enticott, P. G., Teo, W. P., Barhoun, P., Silk, T. J. (2021). Disorder-specific alterations of tactile sensitivity in neurodevelopmental disorders. Communications Biology, 4, 97. doi:10.1038/s42003-020-01592-y
    2. Disorder-specific alterations of tactile sensitivity in neurodevelopmental disorders.docx2 MB

Children's Tactile Processing Studies:

  1. Puts, N. A. J., Harris, A. D., Mikkelsen, M., Tommerdahl, M., Edden, R. A. E., & Mostofsky, S. H. (2017). Altered tactile sensitivity in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Neurophysiology, 118(5), 2568-2578. doi:10.1152/jn.00087.2017
  2. Parush, S., Sohmer, H., Steinberg, A., & Kaitz, M. (2007). Somatosensory function in boys with ADHD and tactile defensiveness. Physiology & Behavior, 90(4), 553-558. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.11.004

Sensory Over-Responsivity and Anxiety Studies:

  1. Reynolds, S., & Lane, S. J. (2009). Sensory overresponsivity and anxiety in children with ADHD. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(4), 433-440.
  2. Lane, S. J., Reynolds, S., & Thacker, L. (2010). Sensory over-responsivity and ADHD: differentiating using electrodermal responses, cortisol, and anxiety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 4, 8. doi:10.3389/fnint.2010.00008
  3. Ben-Sasson, A., Carter, A. S., & Briggs-Gowan, M. J. (2009). Sensory over-responsivity in elementary school: prevalence and social-emotional correlates. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37(5), 705-716.

Comprehensive Reviews:

  1. Ghanizadeh, A. (2011). Sensory processing problems in children with ADHD, a systematic review. Psychiatry Investigation, 8(2), 89-94. doi:10.4306/pi.2011.8.2.89
  2. Lane, S. J., & Schaaf, R. C. (2019). Sensory over-responsivity as an added dimension in ADHD. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 13, 40. doi:10.3389/fnint.2019.00040

Supporting Research:

  1. Bijlenga, D., Tjon-Ka-Jie, J. Y. M., Schuijers, F., & Kooij, J. J. S. (2017). Atypical sensory profiles as core features of adult ADHD, irrespective of autistic symptoms. European Psychiatry, 43, 51-57.

  1. Carpenter, K. L. H., Baranek, G. T., Copeland, W. E., Compton, S., Zucker, N., Dawson, G., & Egger, H. L. (2019). Sensory over-responsivity: an early risk factor for anxiety and behavioral challenges in young children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 47(6), 1075-1088.

Key Takeaways from Citations:

  • Studies consistently show gender differences in tactile sensitivity in ADHD
  • Objective neurophysiological measures support subjective reports of tactile sensitivity
  • Disorder-specific patterns distinguish ADHD from autism spectrum disorders
  • Strong links exist between sensory over-responsivity, anxiety, and stress responses
  • Research spans from preschool through adulthood, showing persistence across development