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Sleep Disturbance in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the Relationship to the Neurodevelopmental

Claudia O'Rourke1,2, Rosemary S C Horne2,3, Gillian M Nixon3

  • 1Victorian Fetal Alcohol Service, Developmental Pediatrics, Monash Children's Hospital, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.

Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics : JDBP
|July 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) frequently experience sleep disturbances, impacting sleep initiation, maintenance, and arousal. These issues persist despite medication, indicating a need for behavioral sleep interventions in FASD management.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Sleep disturbance is a common characteristic of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
  • Understanding sleep patterns in children with FASD is crucial for effective management.
  • Previous research has indicated sleep issues in this population, but detailed comparisons and correlations are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe sleep patterns in school-aged children with FASD compared to typically developing children.
  • To investigate the relationship between sleep disturbances and neurodevelopmental profiles in children with FASD.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 36 children with FASD and 36 typically developing children were assessed.
  • Sleep disturbance was evaluated using the caregiver-completed Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC) questionnaire.
  • Neurodevelopmental assessment results were correlated with sleep disturbance scores.

Main Results:

  • 80% of children with FASD reported significant sleep disturbances, compared to 22% in the control group (p < 0.001).
  • Children with FASD experienced difficulties with sleep initiation/maintenance (58%), sleep-wake transitions (44%), and disorders of arousal (42%).
  • No significant relationship was found between sleep disturbance severity and neurodevelopmental impairment severity in this small sample.

Conclusions:

  • Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in children with FASD, irrespective of neurodevelopmental impairment severity.
  • Current sleep medications were not associated with improved sleep scores in the FASD group.
  • Behavioral sleep medicine integration is recommended for managing sleep issues in children with FASD.
Abstract

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