Sensory Processing and Autism: A Conversation with Dr. Carissa Cascio
Carissa Cascio, senior scientist at the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training, explains how sensory processing disorder connects to experiences for autistic individuals. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Sensory processing disorder seems to come up a lot in conversations about autism. How common is it?
Cascio: It’s estimated that as many as 90 percent of children with autism experience sensory processing disorder, compared to about 5 to 17 percent of the general population.
Q: For readers who may not be familiar, what exactly is sensory processing disorder?
Cascio: Sensory processing disorder is a broad term to describe challenges with how sensory signals from the environment are taken in and integrated to guide behavior. It’s really an umbrella term, much like autism itself. Often, it shows up as hypersensitivity.
Q: You helped develop the “cascading effects model.” Can you explain what that is?
Cascio: The model focuses on how early sensory differences can shape a child’s development over time. If a child senses the world differently, it can set off a chain reaction that influences how they explore, learn, and connect with others. My colleagues and I work from the premise that if there are differences in these very basic sensory processes — how information is getting in and being analyzed by the brain — those differences will cascade to influence more complex behaviors as children develop.
Q: Could you give an example of how this plays out in daily life?
Cascio: Sure. Take a boy who can’t filter out background noise. He might avoid noisy places like the playground, which means fewer chances to play with peers. Over time, he misses out on developing social skills, which affects his confidence and communication.
Or think of a girl who is sensitive to certain smells and textures. She may resist trying new foods, which shapes her eating habits. That avoidance can make mealtimes stressful and limit her diet.
Q: Many people think of the five senses. Are there other senses involved in this picture?
Cascio: Yes. Beyond taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound, there are senses like balance and body awareness. For example, some kids who are always climbing, swinging, or jumping may never seem to get enough stimulation to their joints and muscles.
Q: These behaviors can be difficult for parents and teachers to understand. What should they know?
Cascio: Differences in sensory processing can definitely lead to behaviors that are upsetting to adults. But if a child reacts differently to a parent’s voice or touch, that’s not rejection — it’s about how their brain is processing those signals. Over time, those differences affect how much they interact and the quality of those interactions. Recognizing this can help parents find new ways to communicate affection, which leads to better outcomes.
Q: What motivated you personally to study this area?
Cascio: Honestly, it was listening to autistic people themselves. Many describe their sensory sensitivities and how limiting they can be in daily life. Hearing those voices inspired me to look more closely at sensory processing.
Q: Autism often overlaps with other conditions. How does that fit into the picture?
Cascio: Autistic individuals are more likely to have co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, OCD, and seizures. We don’t yet fully understand why, but research suggests it’s likely a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. A lot of the genes identified for autism affect neurodevelopment broadly.
Q: Where does the research go from here?
Cascio: The cascading effects model is still a theory — we haven’t been able to definitively test it yet. But it provides a framework for thinking about how sensory differences might be a foundational feature of autism. As we connect more pieces, understanding sensory processing can help us better support autistic individuals in living the lives they want to live.