American Asperger's Association
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

American Asperger's Association Support Group

Latest topics
» Chambers of Hope (COH) and American Aspergers Association (AAA)
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jul 27, 2013 1:29 pm by csweepigirl

» Introductions
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Feb 06, 2012 12:39 am by earthenvessel

» June 4th 2011
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Feb 25, 2011 6:22 am by csweepigirl

» Free Home Speech Practice Home offer
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Feb 19, 2011 2:21 pm by csweepigirl

» Support group meeting and hbot volunteers
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Dec 20, 2010 9:35 am by Dr. Ron

» Favor....Locals..read..please...
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Oct 11, 2010 7:46 am by bondgary009

» Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is hosting the first of its best practices webinars
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Aug 27, 2010 4:51 am by csweepigirl

» We need to start this website back up again!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Aug 23, 2010 2:33 am by man of a million names

» Group Home Manager is Yelling I Need Help
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Aug 05, 2010 3:10 am by csweepigirl

» Facebook
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Jul 05, 2010 2:27 am by KelleyNNelson

» Support Group Meetings 2011 *EDITED*
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Jun 23, 2010 3:57 am by KelleyNNelson

» community happenings!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Jun 22, 2010 6:01 am by asg_tlm@hotmail.com

» Asperger's (how it is diagnosed and treated)
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 12, 2010 4:27 pm by csweepigirl

» What do you do when people look at you by the pills you take vs. the person you are?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 12, 2010 4:01 pm by csweepigirl

» Items under your nose that are gluten free, and cheap too!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Jun 09, 2010 5:59 am by KelleyNNelson

» Adam
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Jun 08, 2010 1:19 am by man of a million names

» Looking for friends
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 05, 2010 8:51 pm by channing28105

» Maas-Rowe Carillon Questions
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jun 05, 2010 8:51 pm by channing28105

» Video Emails from Dr. Ron
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue May 11, 2010 1:40 am by Dr. Ron

» Ah, it's good to be back.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat May 01, 2010 5:03 am by man of a million names

» 1st Annual Aspergers Volleyball Tournament
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Apr 19, 2010 2:03 am by Dr. Ron

» free event: Therapeutic Recreation Adapted Sailing and Kayak Clinic
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Apr 01, 2010 3:20 am by csweepigirl

» Help! I Seem to be Getting More Autistic!" ARTICLE
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Mar 29, 2010 10:22 am by csweepigirl

» Was this teacher out of line?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Mar 03, 2010 10:31 pm by lovethefish

» OMG THE PLACE IS REMODELED!!!!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Mar 03, 2010 2:38 am by KelleyNNelson

» Got Plates?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Mar 02, 2010 1:19 am by KelleyNNelson

» Local IEP Advocate!! THANKS VAL!!!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Feb 28, 2010 1:16 pm by csweepigirl

» Pinellas ESE advisory board meetings
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Feb 27, 2010 12:31 am by lovethefish

» Dentists who use sedation.. thanks Dr. Ron
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Feb 27, 2010 12:28 am by lovethefish

» Hey GAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Feb 24, 2010 5:25 am by csweepigirl

» Autism in the news: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A hormone thought to encourage bonding between mothers and their babies may foster social behavior in some adults with autism, French researchers said on Monday.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Feb 18, 2010 7:01 am by csweepigirl

» **********echo*******************
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Jan 31, 2010 11:16 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Any ideas on how to make a gluten regression easier for both child and family?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Jan 06, 2010 9:47 am by csweepigirl

» Hi! Long time no see.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Dec 21, 2009 3:04 am by KelleyNNelson

» Hellooooo? Need some freakin' help here.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Dec 15, 2009 8:50 am by man of a million names

» Cats or dogs? Summer or winter?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Nov 23, 2009 6:47 am by man of a million names

» Mozark and the whale *aspergers movie* on showtime on demand.. SUCKED by the way
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Nov 23, 2009 6:42 am by man of a million names

» Adult Aspergers Syndrome
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Nov 22, 2009 4:07 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Asperger’s Syndrome: A Developmental Puzzle by Michael McCroskery
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Nov 22, 2009 12:22 pm by csweepigirl

» Really Cool Super Awesome Thing! Kim And Kelly You Have To Read This!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Nov 20, 2009 4:24 am by man of a million names

» 2 Articles of Interest Re: Aspergers
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Nov 19, 2009 6:15 am by csweepigirl

» Accidently stubled across some info about meletonin oops!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Nov 10, 2009 2:41 pm by csweepigirl

» Lack of Services for ASD
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Nov 09, 2009 8:04 pm by Dr. Ron

» New and having a hard time
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Nov 04, 2009 3:40 am by lovethefish

» Sorry I haven't been around as much (update)
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Nov 03, 2009 10:53 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Having a hard time again
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Oct 20, 2009 8:35 am by man of a million names

» Important paradox/riddle! Anyone care to help with it?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Oct 19, 2009 10:46 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Follow through or not.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Oct 15, 2009 4:01 am by csweepigirl

» New Pediatrics Autism Study Putting Prevalence at 1 in 91
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Oct 14, 2009 11:45 am by csweepigirl

» Different Directions
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Oct 09, 2009 12:41 am by csweepigirl

» AS is a very difficult diagnosis to make.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Oct 08, 2009 1:47 pm by csweepigirl

» How is everyone?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Sep 21, 2009 9:48 pm by Jerry Graham

» CD to benefit the AAA ~!!!!! Check this out!!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Sep 21, 2009 11:14 am by bassfiddlesteve

» I met Joe Diffie's son!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Sep 20, 2009 8:01 am by csweepigirl

» Anyone feel like helping me smack the crap out of my former boss?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Sep 20, 2009 7:56 am by csweepigirl

» Lazy or Aspergers?? or both?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Sep 20, 2009 5:20 am by man of a million names

» The right thing?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Sep 15, 2009 7:27 am by man of a million names

» Mark Fowler and his wonderful work.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Sep 13, 2009 5:51 am by man of a million names

» A.A.A. RESEARCH STUDY. Do you see any differences between females with Aspergers vs. males with Aspergers
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Sep 10, 2009 1:49 pm by csweepigirl

» What happened?? because I don't know, do you?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Sep 10, 2009 6:24 am by man of a million names

» Haha, Funny URL.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Sep 09, 2009 9:15 am by man of a million names

» Dude! Kim, I forgot to tell you... and maybe anyone else at the last meeting...
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Sep 05, 2009 4:59 am by man of a million names

» My son is making strange noises!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Sep 04, 2009 11:41 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Terrible sound on video
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Sep 04, 2009 9:30 am by man of a million names

» Aspian or Aspergian?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Sep 04, 2009 7:22 am by man of a million names

» If you, or you know someone who needs a BIG/HUGE carseat..
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Sep 04, 2009 12:33 am by csweepigirl

» Just a quick hello
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Sep 02, 2009 7:37 am by man of a million names

» We started the FLDRS process...and here's what we found out so far
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Sep 02, 2009 7:19 am by man of a million names

» Support Groups
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSun Aug 30, 2009 1:31 pm by KelleyNNelson

» (Aspergers) Boy Meets Girl Movie
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Aug 25, 2009 8:13 am by man of a million names

» I give up, with trying to ever just relax, really.. I'm so flustrated!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Aug 24, 2009 9:15 am by man of a million names

» Basic White or Yellow Cake
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Aug 22, 2009 6:33 am by man of a million names

» When did this category get here?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Aug 22, 2009 1:55 am by man of a million names

» Pork Fried Rice
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Aug 20, 2009 11:17 pm by man of a million names

» Why Are The Private Messages Still Disabled????
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Aug 20, 2009 10:48 pm by man of a million names

» Sorry I've been M.I.A.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Aug 19, 2009 6:04 am by man of a million names

» 5Km Run For AS!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Aug 14, 2009 11:30 pm by man of a million names

» Help for a mother.
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Aug 12, 2009 12:01 pm by Dr. Ron

» Aspergers and empathy
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Aug 08, 2009 11:41 am by csweepigirl

» We are the three amigo(a)s!Aanyone care to join?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Aug 07, 2009 12:42 am by man of a million names

» Vaccinations, Red Book, What?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeThu Aug 06, 2009 12:21 am by Dr. Ron

» What is the first step?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Aug 05, 2009 7:14 am by Dr. Ron

» Children who can’t cuddle
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeMon Aug 03, 2009 1:27 pm by csweepigirl

» Challenging popular myths about autism
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Jul 31, 2009 10:59 pm by Dr. Ron

» I NEED your HELP!!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeSat Jul 25, 2009 2:41 am by melissa

» Ok..what do I do? any suggestions..
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeFri Jul 24, 2009 3:53 am by melissa

» Back home!
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Jul 22, 2009 2:10 pm by KelleyNNelson

» Any spanish speakers willing to help an aspie in spain?
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeWed Jul 22, 2009 1:34 pm by csweepigirl

» Gluten Free Simple Bread
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Jul 21, 2009 11:49 am by csweepigirl

» More research (genetics)
Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep I_icon_minitimeTue Jul 21, 2009 11:43 am by csweepigirl


You are not connected. Please login or register

Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep

Go down  Message [Page 1 of 1]

Admin

Admin
Admin

Helping Your Child With Autism Get a Good Night's Sleep
During the first few months of life, babies ease into a normal cycle of sleep and wakefulness. They gradually reduce the number of daytime naps and start sleeping for longer periods of time at night. But some children continue to have difficulty falling asleep or sleeping through the night, and the problem can persist long after children start school.

Sleep disorders may be even more common in children with autism. Researchers estimate that between 40% and 80% of children with autism have difficulty sleeping. The biggest sleep problems among these children include:

difficulty falling asleep
inconsistent sleep routines
restlessness or poor sleep quality
waking early
A lack of a good night's sleep can affect not only the child, but everyone in his or her family. If you're bleary-eyed from night after night of waking up with your child, there are a number of lifestyle interventions and sleep aids that can help.

What causes sleep disorders in children with autism?
Researchers don't know for sure why autistic children have problems with sleep, but they have several theories. The first has to do with social cues. People know when it's time to go to sleep at night thanks to the normal cycles of light and dark and the body's circadian rhythms. But they also use social cues. For example, children may see their siblings getting ready for bed. Children with autism, who often have difficulty communicating, may misinterpret or fail to understand these cues.

Another theory has to do with the hormone melatonin, which normally helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. To make melatonin, the body needs an amino acid called tryptophan, which research has found to be either higher or lower than normal in children with autism. Typically, melatonin levels rise in response to darkness (at night) and dip during the daylight hours. Studies have shown that some children with autism don't release melatonin at the correct times of day. Instead, they have high levels of melatonin during the daytime and lower levels at night.

Another reason children with autism may have trouble falling asleep or awaken in the middle of the night could be an increased sensitivity to outside stimuli, such as touch or sound. While most kids continue to sleep soundly while their mother opens the bedroom door or tucks in the covers, a child with autism might wake up abruptly.

Anxiety is another possible condition that could adversely affect sleep. Children with autism tend to test higher than other children for anxiety.

What kind of effects do sleep problems have?
Not getting a good night's sleep can have a serious impact on a child's life. Research has shown that, in children with autism, there is a connection between lack of sleep and the following characteristics:

aggression
depression
hyperactivity
increased behavioral problems
irritability
poor learning and cognitive performance
But your child isn't the only person affected. If he or she isn't sleeping, there's a good chance you aren't either. One study shows that the parents of autistic children sleep less, have poorer sleep quality, and wake up earlier than parents of non-autistic children.

How do I know whether my child has a sleep disorder?
Every child needs a slightly different amount of sleep. In general, these are the amounts of sleep children require, by age:

Ages 1-3: 12-14 hours of sleep per day
Ages 3-6: 10-12 hours of sleep per day
Ages 7-12: 10-11 hours of sleep per day
If your child regularly has difficulty falling asleep or wakes up repeatedly throughout the night, it might be a sign of a sleep problem. To know for sure, make an appointment with your child's pediatrician. The doctor may refer you to a sleep specialist.

It can help to keep a sleep diary for a week to track how much and when your child is sleeping. You can share this diary with your child's doctor and any specialist involved in treatment.

How can I help my child sleep better?
Sleep medications are used only as a last resort with children. There are a number of lifestyle changes and natural sleep aids that can improve sleep time and quality in kids with autism:

Avoid giving your child stimulants such as caffeine and sugar before bed.
Establish a nighttime routine: give your child a bath, read a story, and put him or her to bed at the same time every night.
Help your child relax before bed by reading a book, giving a gentle back massage, or turning on soft music. Avoid television, video games, and other stimulating activities just before bedtime.
To prevent sensory distractions during the night, put heavy curtains on your child's windows to block out the light, install thick carpeting, and make sure the door doesn't creak.
Ask your pediatrician about giving your child melatonin just before bedtime. This dietary supplement is often used as a sleep aid to help people get over jet lag. It may help normalize sleep-wake cycles in autistic children who have sleeping issues, and research done so far finds that it's safe and effective.
Try bright-light therapy. Exposing the child to periods of bright light in the morning may help regulate the body's release of melatonin.

Back to top  Message [Page 1 of 1]

Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum