Sleep Disorders in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Nicole Corradi, Carlotta Spagnoli, Monica Cattalini
Sleep disorders represent a fairly common comorbidity in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is estimated that children with ASD have at least one sleep problem in 50-80% of cases. Insomnia is the most frequently found disorder in these individuals and reported by their parents. It is followed by parasomnia, sleep breathing disorders, sleep movement disorders and daytime sleepiness. Starting from this framework, an APA PsycInfo’s literature review which uses as a reference topics of preschool age is proposed. Focused on the association between sleep disorders and clinical manifestations of autism, this research has made it possible to identify a high frequency of these disorders in children with ASD and some differences in the type and evolution of the disorders manifested by these subjects and by children with typical development. The increased tendency towards chronicization in children with ASD and the potential negative effect of sleep disorders on autistic symptoms make early diagnosis and both disorders targets.
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Preschool Age, Sleep, Sleep Disorders, Review.