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Parental Sleep Concerns in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Variations from Childhood to Adolescence

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Abstract

Sleep problems of adolescents and older children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were compared to toddlers and young children in 1,859 children. Sleep was measured with the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. Total sleep problems were significant across all age groups, however the factors contributing to these problems differed. Adolescents and older children had more problems with delayed sleep onset, shorter sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness; while younger children had more bedtime resistance, sleep anxiety, parasomnias, and night wakings. The results suggest that sleep problems persist through adolescence in ASD with differences in types of problems experienced and emphasize the need for clinicians to address sleep behaviors not only in young children with ASD but throughout the age span.

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Acknowledgments

The support of this study came from a cooperative agreement (UA3 MC 11054) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Research Program, to the Massachusetts General Hospital. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Autism Speaks, Inc. The authors acknowledge the members of the ATN for use of the data. The Autism Treatment Network includes these members: Clinical Coordinating Center, MassGeneral Hospital for Children: James Perrin, MD Dan Coury, MD; Data Coordinating Center, EMMES Corporation: Traci Clemons, PhD; Baylor College of Medicine: Diane Treadwell-Deering, MD Daniel Glaze, MD; Bloorview Kids Rehab, Surrey Place Centre and The Hospital for Sick Children: Wendy Roberts, MD Alvin Loh, MD;Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center: Patricia Manning-Courtney, MD Cynthia Molloy, MD, MS; Columbia University Medical Center: Agnes Whitaker, MD Reet Sidhu, MD; Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program Northern California: Lisa Croen, PhD Pilar Bernal, MD; Kennedy Krieger Institute and Marcus Institute: Rebecca Landa, PhD Stewart Mostofsky, MD; Oregon Health & Science University: Robert Steiner, MD Darryn Sikora, PhD; University of Arkansas and Arkansas Children’s Hospital: Jill James, PhD Jill Fussell, MD; University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine and The Children’s Hospital: Cordelia Robinson, PhD, RN Ann Reynolds, MD Susan Hepburn, PhD; University of Missouri: Judith Miles, MD, PhD Stephen Kanne, PhD; University of Pittsburgh: Nancy Minshew, MD Cynthia Johnson, PhD Benjamin Handen, PhD; University of Rochester: Susan Hyman, MD Tristram Smith, PhD; Vanderbilt University Medical School: Beth Malow, MD.

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Correspondence to Suzanne E. Goldman.

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Goldman, S.E., Richdale, A.L., Clemons, T. et al. Parental Sleep Concerns in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Variations from Childhood to Adolescence. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 531–538 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1270-5

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