Sleep and Asperger's, Autism and ADHD
Children with disorders such as Aspergers and autism often have trouble with sleep. Like other children, they may have settling problems and waking problems.
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Along with all the advice given on routines for bed on the Netmums advice pages there are one or two other things that may be useful for you to consider if your child is still having sleep problems, particularly in settling.
Why doesn't my child sleep?
It is thought that one of the reasons children with autistic spectrum disorders may have trouble in settling may be because they are not producing sufficient melatonin at the right times of day.
Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that helps to regulate sleep. Typically, melatonin levels rise in response to darkness (at night) and dip during daylight. 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.
In the UK melatonin supplements have to be prescribed so you may need to speak to your GP or paediatrician about this. Some foods are rich in melatonin such as oats, rice, sweetcorn, tomatoes, plums, bananas and brazil nuts but current research is not clear whether a melatonin-rich diet could be effective in helping children to sleep.
Overall there is not a lot of evidence that this will work for all autistic children with sleep problems although it does work for some. It is usually given to those who have difficulty settling to sleep and is normally used as a last resort when all the other strategies for helping settling i.e. routines etc. have been exhausted.
You can find out more information on Melatonin and its use for managing sleep disorders here.
Helping your child relax
Children with autism can have significant problems with hypersensitivity to touch, visual stimuli or sound. This can be both distracting and distressing and make the process of falling asleep very difficult. Relaxation exercises can help some children but may make others more anxious. You will know best what might suit your child. Find more ideas at www.relaxkids.com
Weighted blankets
Some children with autism like to have pressure applied, in the form of weighted blankets (or sometimes a sleeping bag can help a bit), although some can be the opposite of this and prefer no bedding. If your child likes to hold others tightly and seems to have a high pain threshold then s/he may be hyposensitive to the sensation of touch.Find out more at www.autism.org.uk.
A weighted blanket is simply a custom-made blanket that has been filled with a specific material that gives the blanket added weight. The choice of filler varies by manufacturer; some common choices are poly-pellets, sand, beans, and river rocks. The deep pressure provided by the weighted blanket helps to calm the individual allowing his body to relax and subsequently sleep is induced. It can also be useful for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Take a look at www.sensorydirect.com for products.
White Noise
Some children with Asperger's, autism and a adhd are hypersensitive to noise and can benefit from white noise. White noise is a background noise like a radio not tuned properly. As white noise covers all frequencies and is a combination of all of the different frequencies of sound it can be used to block out other noises that may disturb - for a full explanation see here. It is often used to aid sleep and prevent a child being woken by background noise. You can by audio sleep aids at www.lullaby.org.uk.
Other sources of support
Cerebra, positively different (Cerebra is a unique charity set up to help improve the lives of children with brain related conditions through research, education and directly supporting the children and their carers) have a sleep service.
Sleep Scotland is a charity promoting healthy sleep in children and young adults through education, sleep counselling and sleep awareness.
