Sleep patterns of school-age children with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism

J Autism Dev Disord. 2006 Jul;36(5):585-95. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0099-9.

Abstract

Sleep patterns of 32 school-age children with Asperger syndrome (AS) and high-functioning autism (HFA) were compared to those of 32 typically developing age- and gender-matched children, using parent survey and one week of diary and actigraphic monitoring. Parents of children with AS/HFA more commonly reported that their children had difficulty falling asleep. One week of sleep recording with diary and actigraphy confirmed that children in the AS/HFA group spent a longer time awake in bed before falling asleep than children in the control group, possibly because the children in the AS/HFA group had earlier bedtimes. Other essential aspects of sleep patterns coincided between the groups. The sleep patterns of children with AS and HFA did not differ.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asperger Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Child
  • Employment
  • Family
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Reference Values
  • Sleep / physiology*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology