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Sleep patterns in preschool-age children with autism, developmental delay, and typical development

Beth L Goodlin-Jones1, Karen Tang, Jingyi Liu

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis MIND Institute, USA.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|July 4, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism (AUT) and developmental delay (DD) show distinct sleep disturbances compared to typically developing children. Objective measures reveal differences in sleep patterns and duration, highlighting sleep issues in these groups.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pediatric sleep science

Background:

  • Disturbed sleep is a common, yet understudied, noncore symptom in autistic disorder.
  • Understanding sleep patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder (AUT) and developmental delay (DD) is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To objectively assess and compare sleep quantity and quality in preschool children with AUT, DD, and typical development.
  • To compare parent perceptions of sleep problems with objective actigraphy data.

Main Methods:

  • A multimethod approach using parent reports, questionnaires, and actigraphy over one week.
  • Inclusion of 194 children: 68 with AUT, 57 with DD, and 69 typically developing.
  • Comparison of parent-defined sleep problems with research diagnostic criteria for behavioral insomnia from actigraphy.

Main Results:

  • Children with DD had more frequent and longer awakenings post-sleep onset compared to other groups.
  • Children with AUT exhibited less total 24-hour sleep time than the other groups.
  • Parental reports of sleep problems did not align with objective insomnia criteria but were linked to increased stress.

Conclusions:

  • Objective evidence confirms distinct sleep patterns in preschool children across AUT, DD, and typical development categories.
  • Sleep durations in all groups were below recommended levels for preschoolers.
  • Further research into sleep disturbances in neurodevelopmental disorders is warranted.
Abstract

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