Paper
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Sleep Habits and Sleep Disturbances in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
M. Souders, MSN, RN, CRNP, Regional Autism Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are at risk for sleep disturbances. Core deficits of ASD and their underlying neurophysiology may predispose children to intrinsic and extrinsic stressors that threaten sleep. Poor sleep in children can alter learning, attention and performance and adversely affect sleep quality in parents. Approximately two-thirds of parents report a sleep disturbance with their ASD child. These findings illuminate the serious problems families' face. Despite the detrimental effects of sleep disturbances, few rigorous studies have been conducted in this population. Characterization of sleep habits and sleep disturbances in a well described ASD group utilizing subjective and objective standardized measures is urgently needed. This study will contribute solid descriptive baseline data and provide an important first step in building a foundation for future studies of etiology and intervention. The aims of this prospective cohort study are to describe the sleep habits and disturbances in children with ASD including Autism, PDD-NOS and Asperger Disorder and to estimate the prevalence of sleep disturbances. Participants will be randomly recruited from a regional autism center and stratified by race, gender and subgroup. The ASD cohort of 63 children, ages 4-10, 21 children in each subgroup, will be compared to 63 normal controls, ages 4-10. Diagnosis will be confirmed with the ADOS or ASDS and DSM-IV-TR. Typical controls will be screened using the SCQ. Subjective data will be obtained with a sleep history questionnaire, a validated measure, the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and a two-week sleep diary. Objective data will be obtained with actigraphy (activity monitoring wristwatch). Each child's sleep will be monitored with an actigraph (MicroMini-Motion logger adapted for children) for seven consecutive days. Actigraphic data will be translated into sleep measures with the Actigraphic Scoring Analysis program. Cohort and subgroup data from the questionnaires, diaries and actigraphy will be analyzed.