Cross-Sectional Age Analysis of Sleep Problems in 2 to 17 Year Olds with ADHD Combined, ADHD Inattentive, or Autism

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Susan D Mayes1, Kristina Puzino2, Craig DiGiovanni2

  • 1Department of Psychiatry H073, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., Hershey, PA, 17033, USA. smayes@psu.edu.

Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings
|July 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems are prevalent in autism and ADHD. Autism showed the most severe nighttime sleep issues, followed by ADHD-Combined and ADHD-Inattentive types, necessitating targeted interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Behavioral Pediatrics

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are frequently observed in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
  • Limited research exists comparing sleep problems across different subtypes of ADHD and autism in relation to age.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence and severity of sleep problems in children aged 2-17 with autism versus ADHD-Combined and ADHD-Inattentive types.
  • To examine age-related patterns in sleep difficulties within these neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • To identify specific sleep issues that are most common.

Main Methods:

  • Mothers of 1415 youth with autism and 1041 youth with ADHD completed the 10-item Pediatric Behavior Scale sleep questionnaire.
  • Data were analyzed to compare sleep problem severity and types across diagnostic groups and age ranges.
  • Correlations between nighttime sleep duration and daytime sleepiness were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Nighttime sleep problems were most severe in the autism group, followed by ADHD-Combined, and then ADHD-Inattentive.
  • Difficulty falling asleep, restless sleep, and nighttime awakenings were the most frequently reported issues.
  • Adolescents exhibited longer nighttime sleep durations but also increased daytime sleepiness; sleep problems generally decreased with age, though correlations were small.

Conclusions:

  • A significant majority of children with autism and ADHD experience sleep problems across all age groups.
  • Difficulty initiating sleep is a primary concern, particularly in adolescents.
  • Developmentally tailored interventions are essential to mitigate the impact of sleep difficulties in these populations.

Keywords:
ADHD-CombinedADHD-InattentiveAgeAutismSleep problems

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