An investigation of sleep patterns in adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder compared with typically developing adolescents. (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baker, Emma; Richdale, Amanda; Short, Michelle; Gradisar, Michael
• Is Part Of: Developmental neurorehabilitation. Volume 16:Number 3(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 155
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Children with disabilities -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 615.542
• DOI: 10.3109/17518423.2013.765518
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8423

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Objective:</italic> To investigate the sleep patterns and disturbances in a pure sample of adolescents with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD).</p> <p> <italic>Method:</italic> Adolescents completed a sleep questionnaire battery and a 7 d sleep diary. Actigraphic data were collected from a sub-sample of participants (55%) with HFASD and all typically developing (TD) adolescents.</p> <p> <italic>Results:</italic> Adolescents with HFASD were three times more likely to report a sleep problem than their TD peers (46.2% <italic>vs.</italic> 14.8%). Adolescents with HFASD had decreased sleep efficiency (diary) (<italic>p</italic> = 0.04, <italic>η</italic>²= 0.10), and more fatigue (<italic>p</italic> = 0.002, <italic>η</italic>²= 0.18) compared with TD adolescents. While TD adolescents generally experienced one symptom of insomnia, adolescents with HFASD were likely to experience two or three symptoms of insomnia (<italic>p</italic> = 0.02, <italic>V</italic> = 0.36).</p> <p> <italic>Conclusion:</italic> The findings suggest that adolescents with HFASD show a continuation of the maladaptive sleep patterns as seen in children with an autism spectrum disorder and these sleep disturbances are associated with increased daytime sleepiness.</p> </abstract>