A good night’s rest isn’t guaranteed for anyone, but it is downright elusive for many people with autism. Individuals on the spectrum often have trouble falling and staying asleep.
And that may worsen certain features of their condition, such as repetitive behaviors, which can, in turn, make sleeping even more difficult.
Given this disruptive feedback loop, sleep problems are among the most urgent concerns for families grappling with autism. But so far, this also happens to be among the least-studied aspects of autism.
Here’s what researchers know so far about the causes and consequences of — and treatments for — sleep problems in autism.
How common are sleep problems in children with autism?
Between 44 and 86 percent of children with autism have a serious problem with sleep1. By comparison, between 10 and 16 percent of children in the general population have difficulty sleeping. This range among people with autism may be wide because studies use different measures to study sleep.
What types of sleep problems are common in autism?
People with autism tend to have insomnia: It takes them an average of 11 minutes longer than typical people to fall asleep, and many wake up frequently during the night. Some people with the condition have sleep apnea, a condition that causes them to stop breathing several times during the night.