Behavioral Interventions to Address Sleep Disturbances in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sleep problems are a common occurrence among children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition to the adverse effects that sleep problems present for children’s neurodevelopment, learning, and daytime behaviors, these sleep problems also present significant challenges for the entire family. This article outlines the results of a comprehensive review of behavioral intervention literature to address sleep problems in young children with ASD using the National Autism Center (NAC) criteria. Results indicate that a variety of antecedent- and consequence-based interventions have been evaluated with young children with ASD to address sleep disturbances. The empirical strength of the literature reviewed reveals an emerging evidence base. These findings suggest the need for more research evaluating behavioral interventions with young children with ASD to contribute to best practices for early childhood special educators and practitioners working with these children.