Functional assessment and treatment of sleeping problems with developmentally disabled children: six case studies

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R Didden1, L M Curfs, S P Sikkema

  • 1Department of Social Sciences, University of Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|June 17, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Sleep problems in young, developmentally disabled children can be treated effectively. Behavioral and medical interventions significantly reduced sleep issues, with lasting positive effects for children and families.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Sleep disturbances are prevalent in young children with developmental disabilities, impacting child and parental well-being.
  • Identifying underlying causes of sleep problems is crucial for effective intervention.

Observation:

  • Functional assessments revealed sleep issues reinforced by parental attention in some cases.
  • Undiagnosed seizure disorders were linked to nighttime crying in one child.
  • Conditioned anxiety contributed to difficulties settling for sleep in another child.

Findings:

  • Behavioral therapies (extinction, desensitization) and pharmacological treatments (anticonvulsants) were employed.
  • All children experienced a substantial reduction in sleep problems following treatment.
  • Treatment effects were maintained at follow-up.

Implications:

  • Integrated behavioral and medical approaches can successfully manage sleep problems in this population.
  • Addressing parental reinforcement and underlying medical conditions is key.
  • Long-term maintenance of improved sleep suggests the efficacy of the interventions.

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