Getting a Good Night’s Sleep: Sleep Problems, Their Etiology, and Potential Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism

Historically sleep was considered a passive activity, but research now strongly suggests that it is a time of neurological growth, where memories and skills are consolidated (Fallone et al., 2002). Good sleep is thought to influence cognitive, physical and emotional performance, and aid in effective emotional regulation (Alfano & Gamble, 2009). Whilst sleep problems are relatively common amongst children and adolescents, with estimates varying between 11% and 47% (Russo et al., 2007 Russo, P. M., Bruni, O., Lucidi, F., Ferri, R., & Violani, C. (2007). Sleep habits and circadian preference in Italian children and adolescents. Journal of Sleep Research, 16(2), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2007.00584.x[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), they are significantly more common in those with Autism (30% to 80%, Goldman et al. 2012; Hirata et al. 2016; Krakowiak et al. 2008). Research also suggests that without intervention these problems are likely to persist (Goldman et al. 2012 Goldman, S. E., Richdale, A. L., Clemons, T., & Malow, B. A. (2012). Parental sleep concerns in autism spectrum disorders: Variations from childhood to adolescence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(4), 531–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1270-5[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Hodge et al. 2013). Emerging research finds that autistic children and adolescents experience specific sleep difficulties that are unique to this group. As research on the etiology of sleep problems in autism develops we are refining our approaches to intervention to more effectively meet the needs of these children and young people and their families. This article summarises current research into the specific sleep needs of this group. It also considers the multifactorial etiology of sleep problems for this group, and evidence based interventions to date. The author argues that through increased awareness, professionals can do much to ameliorate challenges related to sleep, and improve family functioning and quality of life.