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.
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 and overall health. 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
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ReplyDeleteOther autism spectrum disorder sleep issues. This could be brought about around evening time dread, which is ordinary in youngsters from around year and a half to 6 years. Bad dreams can likewise wake youngsters up and make it difficult for them to return to sleep.