Decreased interoceptive accuracy in children with autism spectrum disorder and with comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

This study looked at how well children can sense their own heartbeat and other internal body signals. Children with autism showed more difficulty sensing these internal signals compared to other children. Children with both autism and ADHD also had similar difficulties. Even children without autism who had some autistic traits struggled more with this than children with fewer autistic traits. This suggests that trouble sensing body signals might be connected to autism and ADHD symptoms.

This study examined interoceptive accuracy (the ability to perceive internal bodily signals) in 113 children using an eye-tracking task. Researchers compared children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), children with both ASD and ADHD, and typically developing children with varying levels of autistic traits. Results showed that children with ASD, both with and without ADHD comorbidity, demonstrated significantly lower interoceptive accuracy compared to typically developing children. Additionally, typically developing children with higher autistic traits showed reduced interoceptive accuracy compared to those with lower autistic traits.

The study found negative correlations between interoceptive accuracy and both autistic and ADHD symptoms, suggesting that difficulties in sensing internal bodily signals may be a shared feature across these conditions.

Findings suggest interoceptive training interventions may benefit children with autism and ADHD. Clinicians should consider assessing interoceptive abilities when evaluating sensory processing concerns. Results support the importance of addressing body awareness and internal signal recognition in therapeutic interventions for autism and ADHD.

Sample sizes are relatively small, particularly for the comorbid ASD+ADHD group (n=20). The study uses a single measure of interoceptive accuracy and relies on parent-report measures for symptom assessment. Cross-sectional design limits understanding of developmental trajectories.

Interoception refers to the awareness of internal physiological state. Several previous studies reported that people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have diverse patterns of interoception, but the extent of literature is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the interoceptive accuracy (IA) in children with ASD, children with comorbid ASD and ADHD, and typically developing (TD) children with high and low levels of autistic traits. We administered the eye-tracking interoceptive accuracy task (EIAT) to 30 children with ASD, 20 children with comorbid ASD and ADHD, and 63 TD controls with high and low levels of autistic traits.

Parent-report scales concerning ASD and ADHD symptoms were collected. ASD children with and without comorbid ADHD both exhibited lower IA than TD children. Reduced IA was also found in TD children with high-autistic traits relative to those with low-autistic traits. IA was negatively correlated with autistic and ADHD symptoms.

Atypical cardiac interoception could be found in children with ASD. Difficulties in sensing and comprehending internal bodily signals in childhood may be related to both ASD and ADHD symptoms. LAY SUMMARY: The present study examined interoceptive accuracy (IA) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), children with comorbid ASD and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and typically developing (TD) children with high and low levels of autistic traits. ASD children with and without comorbid ADHD both exhibited lower IA than TD children.

TD children with high-autistic traits exhibited decreased IA compared to those with low-autistic traits. These results have implications for understanding sensory atypicality found in ASD and ADHD.