Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum problems: a longitudinal population-based study.
Sleep problems in autistic kids are ten times more common, start earlier, and usually do not go away on their own.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Norwegian researchers tracked the children for five years. They compared sleep patterns in kids with autism spectrum problems versus typical peers.
Parents filled out the same sleep questionnaire every year. The team counted who developed chronic insomnia and whose problems went away.
What they found
Children with autism spectrum problems had 12 times higher odds of chronic insomnia. Only a large share of these kids saw their sleep issues resolve, compared with a large share of typical children.
The sleep gap appeared early and widened over time. By age ten, most autistic children still struggled to fall or stay asleep.
How this fits with other research
Reid et al. (2005) followed autistic youth for 12 years and found challenging behaviors also persist. Both studies show autism-related problems often last into adulthood, not just childhood.
Höfer et al. (2017) report that up to a large share of families try complementary medicine for autism. High CAM use makes sense when sleep and behavior issues stick around for years.
The 2012 sleep data extend the 2005 behavior findings. Together they paint a picture: core autism challenges tend to stay, so early, intense support is critical.
Why it matters
Treat sleep problems as a chronic condition, not a phase. Screen every new client with autism for bedtime routines, night wakings, and daytime fatigue. Track sleep monthly, not just at intake. When issues surface, combine behavioral sleep training with medical consultation early—waiting rarely pays off. Share the a large share remission figure with parents to set realistic timelines and justify sustained intervention.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study examined the prevalence and chronicity of sleep problems in children who manifest problems believed to be typical of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Using data from a longitudinal total population study, symptoms of ASD, insomnia and potential explanatory factors were assessed at ages 7-9 and 11-13. Children were included in a group defined as having Autism Spectrum Problems (ASP) if they scored above a strict threshold on the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ). Twenty-eight (0.8%) of 3700 children fulfilled the selected criteria for ASP at both waves, and the prevalence of chronic insomnia was more than ten times higher in these children compared to the controls. Children with ASP developed more sleep problems over time, with an incidence rate at wave 2 of 37.5% compared to 8.6% in the controls. The sleep problems were more persistent over time, with a remission rate of 8.3% compared to 52.4% in the controls. ASP was a strong predictor of sleep problems at wave 2 (OR = 12.44), and while emotional and behavioural problems explained a large proportion of this association, the effect of ASP on insomnia remained significant in the fully adjusted model (OR = 3.25). These findings call for increased awareness of sleep problems in children with ASP.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2012 · doi:10.1177/1362361311404255