Nick didn’t sleep when he was inside of me, now he is 16 and still can’t
sleep without assistance. When most kids have drifted off to dreamland Nick is manic and bouncing off the walls. It’s a side of autism no one told me about until
we had suffered for years. Found this and wanted to share.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep
WEBMD
During the first few months of life, babies ease into a normal
cycle of sleep and wakefulness. They gradually
reduce the number of daytime naps they need and start sleeping for longer
periods of time at night. But some children continue to have difficulty falling
asleep or sleeping through the night, and the problem can persist long after
children start school.
Sleep disorders may be even more common in children with autism.
Researchers estimate that between 40% and 80% of children with autism have
difficulty sleeping. The biggest sleep problems among these children include:
·
Difficulty falling
asleep
·
Inconsistent sleep
routines
·
Restlessness or poor
sleep quality
·
Waking early and
waking frequently
A lack of a good night's sleep can affect not only the child but
everyone in his or her family. If you're bleary-eyed from night after night of
waking up with your child, there are a number of lifestyle interventions and sleep aids that can help.
What causes sleep
disorders in children with autism?
Researchers don't know for sure why autistic children have problems
with sleep, but they have several theories. The first has to do with social
cues. People know when it's time to go to sleep at night, thanks to the normal
cycles of light and dark and the body's circadian rhythms. But they also use
social cues. For example, children may see their siblings getting ready for
bed. Children with autism, who often have difficulty communicating, may
misinterpret or fail to understand these cues.
Another theory has to do with the hormone melatonin, which normally helps regulate
sleep-wake cycles. To make melatonin, the body needs an amino acid called
tryptophan, which research has found to be either higher or lower than normal
in children with autism. Typically, melatonin levels rise in response to
darkness (at night) and dip during the daylight hours. Studies have shown that
some children with autism don't release melatonin at the correct times of day.
Instead, they have high levels of melatonin during the daytime and lower levels
at night.
Another reason children with autism may have trouble falling
asleep or awaken in the middle of the night could be an increased sensitivity
to outside stimuli, such as touch or sound. While most kids continue to sleep
soundly while their mother opens the bedroom door or tucks in the covers, a
child with autism might wake up abruptly.
Anxiety is another possible condition
that could adversely affect sleep. Children with autism tend to test higher than
other children for anxiety.
What kind of effects
do sleep problems have?
Not getting a good night's sleep can have a serious impact on a
child's life and overall health. Research has shown that, in children with
autism, there is a connection between lack of sleep and the following
characteristics:
·
Aggression
·
Depression
·
Hyperactivity
·
Increased behavioral
problems
·
Irritability
·
Poor learning and
cognitive performance
If your child isn't sleeping, there's a good chance you aren't,
either. One study showed that the parents of autistic children sleep less, have
poorer sleep quality, and wake up earlier than parents of non-autistic
children.
How do I know whether
my child has a sleep disorder?
Every child needs a slightly different amount of sleep. In
general, these are the amounts of sleep children require, by age:
·
Ages 1-3: 12-14 hours
of sleep per day
·
Ages 3-6: 10-12 hours
of sleep per day
·
Ages 7-12: 10-11 hours
of sleep per day
If your child regularly has difficulty falling asleep or wakes
up repeatedly throughout the night, it might be a sign of a sleep problem. To
know for sure, make an appointment with your child's pediatrician. The doctor
may refer you to a sleep specialist or an ear, nose and throat doctor.
It can help to keep a sleep diary for a week to track how much
and when your child is sleeping. You may include any snoring, changes in
breathing patterns, or difficulty breathing. You can share this diary with your
child's doctor and any specialist involved in treatment.
How can I help my
child sleep better?
Sleep medications should only be used with
children as a last resort . There are a number of lifestyle changes and natural
sleep aids that can improve sleep time and quality for kids with autism:
·
Avoid giving your
child stimulants such as caffeine and sugar before bed.
·
Establish a nighttime
routine: give your child a bath, read a story, and put him or her to bed at the
same time every night.
·
Help your child relax
before bed by reading a book, giving a gentle back massage, or turning on soft music.
·
Shut down television,
video games, and other stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime.
·
To prevent sensory
distractions during the night, put heavy curtains on your child's windows to
block out the light, install thick carpeting, and make sure the door doesn't
creak.
·
Ask your pediatrician
about giving your child melatonin just before bedtime. This dietary
supplement is often used as a sleep aid to help people get over
jet lag. It may help normalize sleep-wake cycles in autistic children who have
sleeping issues, and research done so far finds that it's safe and effective.
·
Talk to a sleep
psychologist about bright-light therapy. Exposing the child to periods of
bright light in the morning may help regulate the body's release of melatonin.
WebMD Medical Reference
SOURCES:
WebMD Feature: "How Much Sleep Do Children Need?"
Richdale AL. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology,
1999.
The National Autistic Society: "Sleep and autism: helping
your child."
Meltzer LJ. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2008.
Andersen IM, Kaczmarska J, McGrew SG, Malow BA. Journal
of Child Neurology, 2008.
