Sensory processing refers to the way the brain takes incoming sensory messages, converts them into meaningful messages, then makes a response. If the responses are disorganized or inappropriate given the sensory input, sensory processing disorder (SPD) may co-exist with autism. If a child has an occasional atypical response to sensation, he or she does not have SPD. Only when daily routines and activities or social participation are chronically disrupted by responses to sensation is the condition considered a disorder rather than a "sensitivity." Confusion exists about the role that sensory processing plays in autism. While almost all children with ASD have some form of sensory atypicality, SPD and autism are not the same condition. A uniform sensory pattern does not exist in children with autism; rather, each individual exhibits different patterns. Some children have one subtype, while others exhibit behaviors indicative of several subtypes. Understanding how sensory factors impact a child can be confusing. This article briefly explains subtypes of SPD that frequently manifest in autism and provides a brief overview of treatment using occupational therapy with a sensory integration approach (OT/SI).