People with autism frequently struggle to recognize when they are overheating in hot weather, according to Daniel Piulats Vila, a professor at the University of Barcelona.
Writing in an article published on Monday, Piulats Vila warned that individuals on the autism spectrum often fail to realize when ambient conditions become dangerously hot for their body.
He explained that autism and thermoregulation problems frequently accompany one another, creating heightened risks during the summer months.
Sensory systems and heat perception
Sensory organs provide human beings with essential information about their own bodies and immediate environment. This includes tracking where objects are located, monitoring the speed of body movement, evaluating the safety of ingested substances, and detecting the temperature of surrounding objects and ambient air.
Piulats Vila noted that all sensory systems operate within a limited sensitivity range. However, temperature perception remains vital for human survival.
Thermoception, defined as an individual personal perception of temperature, forms a core part of the human somatosensory system. This system allows the body to regulate its internal temperature and protect against extreme heat.
A growing health concern in summer
The connection between autism and impaired thermoregulation comes alongside a steady annual increase in clinical autism diagnoses recorded across recent decades.
Because body temperature control relies heavily on accurate sensory feedback, individuals with altered sensory processing may experience what Piulats Vila termed an invisible discomfort, failing to sense bodily heat stress until overheating becomes severe.
Understanding thermoregulation and autism
Autism spectrum condition is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by variations in social communication, behavior, and sensory processing. The somatosensory system encompasses the neural networks responsible for sensing touch, pressure, pain, and thermal changes throughout the body.
When sensory signals for heat are muted or processed differently by the brain, an individual may not register thirst, skin warmth, or rising core temperatures. Consequently, caregivers and family members must closely monitor environmental conditions and body temperature during high summer heat.
The University of Barcelona, founded in 1450 in Catalonia, Spain, is one of Europe major academic research centers specializing in biomedical science, psychology, and neuroscience.
