Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
09:13

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

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Sleep problems and sensory features in children with low-average cognitive abilities and autism spectrum disorder

Sumie Iwasaki1,2, Yuko Yoshimura3,4, Chiaki Hasegawa5,6

  • 1Institute of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Ishikawa, Japan.

Scientific Reports
|July 21, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience more sleep issues, potentially linked to sensory sensitivities. This study found that for children with below-average cognitive skills, sensory issues correlated with poorer sleep quality.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Pediatric sleep medicine

Background:

  • Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently exhibit sleep disturbances.
  • These sleep issues are hypothesized to relate to atypical sensory processing.
  • The interplay between sleep, sensory features, and cognitive function in ASD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between sleep disturbances, sensory features, and cognitive skills in children.
  • To determine if Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characteristics explain sleep disturbances in relation to sensory and cognitive factors.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Preschoolers and the Caregiver Sensory Profile to assess sleep disturbances and sensory features.
  • Employed the Japanese version of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children to evaluate cognitive skills.
  • Analyzed data based on the presence or absence of ASD characteristics, sensory features, and cognitive skills.

Main Results:

  • In children with below-average cognitive scores, higher sensory scores were significantly associated with poorer sleep quality.
  • Children with above-average cognitive scores did not exhibit this association between sensory scores and sleep quality.
  • Sleep disturbances in children with ASD may be differentially influenced by cognitive abilities and sensory processing.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive skills appear to moderate the relationship between sensory features and sleep disturbances in children.
  • Findings suggest that interventions for sleep problems in ASD may need to consider individual cognitive profiles and sensory sensitivities.
  • This research contributes to understanding the heterogeneity of sleep disturbances within Autism Spectrum Disorder subtypes.

Keywords:
AutismCognitive skillsPreschool childrenSensory profileSleep difficulty

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