Sleep Disorders and Autism: What You Need to Know

Sleep Disorders and Autism: What You Need to Know

April is World Autism Month, and at Nanit, we consider it part of our mission to facilitate better research and improve understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—more specifically, how ASD impacts precious sleep.

What is autism?

Autism spectrum disorder affects an estimated one in 44 children in the United States, with about four times as many boys being diagnosed as girls. As implied by the name, autism is a spectrum, with signs, symptoms, and severity varying from one person to the next. Some children with ASD need a great deal of support, while others need less.

The common threads in ASD diagnoses include issues with communication, social, and emotional skills. Children with autism have difficulty coping with changes in their routines and may display repetitive behaviors or intense, focused interest in certain topics. Children with ASD may have different types of reactions, learning styles, and ways of paying attention than other children, ranging from gifted to severely challenged.

Autism by the numbers

The CDC funds the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) to foster a better understanding of the impacts of ASD in the United States and the characteristics of children diagnosed with ASD. From their research, we know that:

  • About one in 44 eight-year-olds has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. (By the age of eight, most children with ASD have been identified for services, which is why this age is used as the baseline in ADDM’s research.)
  • ASD is reported to occur across all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
  • ASD diagnoses vary from region to region; for example, one in 60 children is diagnosed with ASD in Missouri, while in California, the number is one in 26.
  • About one in six (17%) children aged 3–17 years was diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017. These disabilities included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy.

Why research is important

According to our research partners, Shafali Spurling Jeste, MD of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and Mirella Dapretto, Ph.D. of UCLA, the biggest challenge in diagnosing ASD is the fact that many children without ASD also display signs and symptoms of autism. How can a parent know if, for example, their child’s keen interest in birds is a sign of ASD or if their difficulty with transitions is something to be concerned about?

While it’s natural for parents to want a list of clear signs and indicators for a cut-and-dry diagnosis, Jeste and Dapretto caution against the generalization of autism symptoms and behaviors.

“It’s hard for us to give a hard and fast rule, or a predictor for parents… we don’t have great ways to predict that, actually part of what we do in research, to get more precise in those kinds of discussions.”

One of the goals of UCLA’s research into ASD is to enable earlier diagnosis based on more precise criteria, as this provides more opportunities for early intervention.

Importance of early intervention

Autism spectrum disorder is no different from any other type of health condition. From diabetes to heart disease, early diagnosis and intervention are key for the best possible outcomes.

As Dr. Dapretto explains, “The first three years of life are a dramatic period of brain development, and the first year, even more so… so in a way, we are missing by waiting… for children to be diagnosed around the traditional age of three to even seven years of age. We are missing out on that most important early period of critical and robust neuroplasticity.”

In other words, earlier diagnosis can produce better outcomes because it allows doctors and therapists to leverage the increased neuroplasticity that children have at younger ages.

In addition, our research partners hope that their work will allow doctors to predict which children will benefit most from intervention and the type of intervention that will be most beneficial. Because ASD is a spectrum, and symptoms vary, interventions must be tailored and targeted. With research, doctors can improve their ability to offer precise treatments.

Nanit’s research with UCLA

While not all children with autism have sleep disorders (and certainly not all children with sleep troubles have ASD), Dr. Dapretto shares that up to 80 percent of children with ASD have sleep issues, with difficulty falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, and waking early in the morning.

By using the Nanit camera, our research partners around the world now have a more objective measure of the quality of infant sleep. While parents are reliable when it comes to reporting how long it takes for their babies to fall asleep and how many hours they sleep each night, they’re less able to report on how many times their infants wake up during the middle of the night or how restless their sleep is, as the child might not always cry out for their parents during these bouts of restlessness or waking.

Nanit allows researchers to better track this so-called “fragmented sleep” and produce more precise measurements and longitudinal metrics relating to sleep rather than relying on estimates from parents or having to attach cumbersome electronic monitors to infants. This research has the potential to offer more precise diagnostic criteria for ASD in the future, as well as insight into how we can improve sleep for children with autism.

Sleep tips for children with autism

While research is ongoing, in the meantime, Drs. Dapretto and Jeste offer the following sleep hygiene tips for children with autism:

Have a nighttime routine. Children with autism thrive with structure, so keep to a regular, predictable schedule and try to avoid disruptions like staying out late.

Use positive reinforcement. Reward your child for sleeping on their own at night and staying asleep.

Don’t let your child sleep in your bed. Doing so will break that regular routine and structure—and it may create a new routine that impacts your sleep!

No screen time before bed. Avoid exposure to iPads and other devices at least an hour before bedtime.

Avoid eating and drinking before bed. Children are more likely to wake up in the middle of the night when they eat or drink right before their bedtime.

Get plenty of exercise. Yes, the same advice you’ve probably heard from your mom—wear them out! Kids sleep better when they’re active during the day.

Learn more from Nanit

For more sleep tips and updates on how Nanit is helping researchers better understand infant sleep, follow our blog.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Natalie Barnett, PhD serves as VP of Clinical Research at Nanit. Natalie initiated sleep research collaborations at Nanit and in her current role, Natalie oversees collaborations with researchers at hospitals and universities around the world who use the Nanit camera to better understand pediatric sleep and leads the internal sleep and development research programs at Nanit. Natalie holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from the University of New England in Australia and a Postgraduate Certificate in Pediatric Sleep Science from the University of Western Australia. Natalie was an Assistant Professor in the Neurogenetics Unit at NYU School of Medicine prior to joining Nanit. Natalie is also the voice of Nanit's science-backed, personalized sleep tips delivered to users throughout their baby's first few years.

Kristy Ojala is Nanit’s Digital Content Director. She spends way too much time looking at maps and weather forecasts and pictures of Devon Rex cats and no-cook dinners. A former sleep champion, she strives to share trustworthy somnabulism tips with other parents—praying for that one fine day when no tiny humans wake her up while it’s still dark out. Her kids highly recommend 3 books, approximately 600 stuffies, Chopin’s “Nocturnes,” and the Nanit Sound + Light for bedtime success.

Mackenzie Sangster is on the Brand and Community team at Nanit. She supports content development and editing for Nanit’s Parent Confidently blog as well as other marketing initiatives. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends, cooking, being active, and using the Pro + Flex Duo to keep an eye on her fur-baby, Poppy!

Holly Hays is a contributor and writer for Nanit, channeling her years as a mama and former magazine editor to create fun, useful content for fellow busy, trying-to-do-their-best parents and caregivers. Holly has written for a wide range of brands and media outlets (Ergobaby, HGTV, Manhattan Toy Company, OXO), loves to cook and read mystery novels, and leans heavily on her two daughters to keep her up to date on all the latest slang.