Some children with autism have sleep disorder. These sleep problems includes difficulty falling asleep, restlessness or poor sleep quality, waking early and waking frequently, inconsistent sleep routines, etc. Lack of sleep may affect the overall health of an individual and also affects his or her family members.
Causes of sleep disorder among children with autism still do not sure but there are several theories. Some studies shows that people with autism do not release melatonin at the correct time of the day. Melatonin helps to control sleep and wake cycles. Some people with autism may have high level of melatonin during the daytime and lower levels at night.
Anxiety can be also the possible causes of sleep disorder among autistic children. Children with autism tend to have anxiety. Another reason for sleeping disorder is the oversensitive to outside stimuli such as to sound and touch.
Lack of sleep in children have effects including irritability, poor learning, cognitive difficulty, hyperactivity, behavioral problems, depression, and aggression.
Here are some tips to treat sleeping difficulty for children with autism:
- Make your child relax before going to bed by reading a book, gentle massage, listening to soft music
- Avoid giving stimulant like caffeine and sugar before bedtime
- Prevent sensory distractions by putting heavy curtains on the windows during bedtime by blocking the noise, lights, installing thick carpet to avoid creaking of the doors, controlling temperature of the room and the beddings should be fit on sensory needs of your child
- Turn off gadgets, television, cellphones, tablets, and other stimulating activities at least one hour before bedtime
- Ask your pediatrician about dietary supplement such as melatonin to help normalize sleep wake cycle
- Establish night time routine. You can give your child a bath and put him or her to bed at the same time of the night