A review of the nature and treatment of sleep disorders in individuals with developmental disabilities.

Fox et al. (2001) read every paper they could find on sleep in people with developmental disabilities. They grouped the studies by type of sleep problem and type of treatment. The goal was to see how common sleep issues are and what seems to help.

The review covers both children and adults. It looks at autism, intellectual disability, and rarer genetic syndromes. Papers span from the 1980s up to 2001.

Sleep problems are common, but the exact numbers jump around. One survey says 26 % of adults have trouble falling asleep. Another says 56 % wake up at night. The wide range makes it hard to plan services.

Behavioral plans and melatonin both show promise, yet the evidence is mixed. The authors call for clearer data and better studies.

Gaily et al. (1998) is a direct predecessor. That community survey of adults with ID supplies one of the few hard numbers the 2001 review cites. It shows night waking is the top complaint.

Woodford et al. (2024) is a successor. Their single-case study tests the very behavioral packages the 2001 paper said were needed. They find most kids improve with simple circadian cues before any extinction is added.

Sadeh et al. (2023) also updates the story. Where the 2001 review calls melatonin evidence "mixed," the 2023 parent survey shows strong long-term adherence and real-world gains for autistic children.

Lee et al. (2022) ties it all together. Their meta-analysis of 49 studies confirms poor sleep predicts worse daytime mood, behavior, and thinking skills in autism. This quantifies the daytime link the 2001 review could only describe.

If you write sleep protocols, treat this review as your map of old gaps and new answers. Start with low-dose melatonin and light bedtime routines first. Add extinction only if simple steps fail. Track both night data and next-day behavior so you can show parents the daytime payoff.