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Assessment of Sleep Habit and Oral Habits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-deficit
Sushmita Shan1, K Vivek1, Selvakumar Haridoss1
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience significant sleep disturbances. These sleep issues are linked to oral habits like bruxism and warrant assessment in pediatric dental practices.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- These sleep problems can worsen behavioral and cognitive issues in affected children.
- Sleep issues often co-occur with oral habits in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and compare sleep habits in children with ASD and ADHD versus neurotypical children.
- To investigate the association between sleep habits and oral habits in these groups.
- To compare the prevalence of sleep disturbances and oral habits between cases and controls.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 96 children aged 4-10 years, divided into case (ASD/ADHD) and control (neurotypical) groups.
- Utilized the Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire-Abbreviated (CSHQ-A) administered to parents.
- Recorded demographic data, BMI, and oral habits; statistical analyses included t-tests, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD and ADHD exhibited significantly higher CSHQ-A scores (71.41 ± 9.3) compared to controls (43.1 ± 16.9).
- Sleep disturbances in cases included parental dependence for sleep, need for special objects, and frequent night awakenings.
- Higher CSHQ-A scores correlated with oral habits, particularly bruxism, and showed a negative correlation with BMI (r = -0.30).
Conclusions:
- Children with ASD and ADHD demonstrate significantly greater sleep disturbances than neurotypical children.
- Findings underscore the link between sleep disturbances and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Emphasizes the importance of integrating sleep habit assessment with routine oral examinations in pediatric dental care.
Aims And Background:
A healthy metabolic, cognitive, and physical wellness requires sleep. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are prone to sleep disturbances, which exacerbates the behavioral and cognitive issues. Likewise, the sleep problems co-occur with oral habits. This study aims to assess and compare the sleep habit and oral habits of children with ASD and ADHD with those of neurotypical children.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 96 children between the ages 4 and 10 were included. They were divided into two group: the case group, which included children with ASD and ADHD, and the control group, which included neurotypical children. Children's Sleep Habit Questionnaire- Abbreviated (CSHQ-A) was administered to parents to evaluate bedtime routine, sleep behavior, and morning habits. Demographic data, body mass index (BMI), and presence of oral habits were also recorded. A CSHQ-A total score greater than 41 was regarded as abnormal and suggestive of sleep problem. Statistical analysis includes unpaired t-test for continuous variables, Chi-square test for categorical data, and Pearson correlation was employed to correlate CSHQ-A total score and BMI.
Results:
The CSHQ-A total score was significantly higher in cases (71.41 ± 9.3) than the controls (43.1 ± 16.9, p < 0.001). The mean difference in the CSHQ-A total score was 28.31 with a large effect size and 95% confidence interval. Children with ASD and ADHD were dependent on parents to fall asleep, needed special objects, and experienced frequent night awakenings. A higher CSHQ-A total score was related to oral habits particularly, bruxism. There was a negative correlation found between the CSHQ-A total score and BMI (r = -0.30, p = 0.002).
Conclusion:
Children with ASD and ADHD showed significant sleep disturbance than children in control group. This study highlights the relationship between the impact of sleep disturbance and the problems associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. These findings emphasize the importance of assessment of sleep habit along with routine oral examination into the pediatric dental practice.
Clinical Significance:
This study highlights the clinical importance of integrating sleep assessment into pediatric dentistry, especially for children with health needs. Early detection and intervention will help in cognitive development and promotes the overall health.
How To Cite This Article:
Shan S, Vivek K, Haridoss S, et al. Assessment of Sleep Habit and Oral Habits in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2025;18(11):1327-1332.
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