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Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development

Nipaporn Inthikoot1,2, Weerasak Chonchaiya1,2

  • 1Division of Growth and Development, Department of Pediatrics, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, The Thai Red Cross Society, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Pediatrics International : Official Journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
|October 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience more sleep problems than typically developing children. Early identification and management of these sleep disturbances are crucial for improving the quality of life for children with ASD and their families.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep problems are frequently reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but less data exists from developing countries.
  • This study focuses on sleep difficulties in Thai children with ASD compared to typically developing (TD) peers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare sleep difficulties in Thai children aged 3-16 years diagnosed with ASD versus age- and gender-matched TD children.
  • To utilize the validated Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)-Thai version for comprehensive sleep assessment.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 65 children with ASD and 65 TD children (aged 3-16 years) was recruited from a university hospital in Bangkok.
  • Parent-reported data on background characteristics, sleep duration, and the CSHQ were collected.
  • Statistical comparisons of CSHQ subscales and total scores were performed between the ASD and TD groups.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD exhibited significantly longer sleep latency on both weekdays and weekends compared to TD children.
  • The ASD group reported higher scores on CSHQ subscales, including bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay, sleep anxiety, and night waking, along with higher total scores.
  • Within the ASD group, children treated with psychostimulants for ADHD showed reduced sleep duration compared to unmedicated children.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep difficulties are more prevalent in children with ASD than in TD children in the studied Thai population.
  • Awareness and early identification of sleep problems in children with ASD are essential for timely intervention.
  • Effective management of sleep disturbances can lead to improved quality of life for both children with ASD and their families.
Abstract

Keywords:
ADHDChildren's Sleep Habits Questionnaireautismparent reportsleep

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