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[Sleep disturbances in children with autistic spectrum disorders]

I A Kelmanson1

  • 1Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Special Education and Psychology of International University for Family and Child, St. Petersburg.

Zhurnal Nevrologii I Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova
|September 1, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience sleep disorders, including difficulty sleeping and altered sleep cycles. This study explores the link between sleep issues and ASD, suggesting potential treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Context:

  • Autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) in children are frequently accompanied by significant sleep disturbances.
  • Common sleep issues include resistance to sleep, frequent awakenings, parasomnias, and altered sleep architecture, notably reduced REM sleep.

Purpose:

  • To examine the association between sleep disorders and the pathogenesis of autistic spectrum disorders in children.
  • To explore the potential direct relationship between sleep disturbances and ASD development.
  • To discuss the role of neurobiological factors in the genesis of sleep disorders within the context of ASD.

Summary:

  • This research reviews characteristic sleep disorder variants in children with ASD.
  • It highlights the potential direct link between sleep disturbances and ASD pathogenesis.
  • Pathological alterations in neuromediators and brain structures in ASD are discussed as contributing factors to sleep disorders.

Impact:

  • Understanding the sleep-ASD connection can inform targeted interventions for affected children.
  • Identifying neurobiological underpinnings may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for both sleep and ASD symptoms.
  • This work suggests exploring non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments for sleep disorders in ASD.

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