Telehealth cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorder: A pilot examining feasibility, satisfaction, and preliminary findings.

The team tested telehealth CBT-CI, a sleep-skills package delivered through video calls. Parents of school-age children with autism learned bedtime routines and relaxation steps. All sessions happened at home, with no travel needed.

The study used a simple before-and-after design. Families filled out sleep logs and rating scales first, then tried the six-week program, then rated sleep again.

Kids fell asleep faster and woke less often. Parents also slept longer and felt less tired during the day.

Parents said the video format fit autism needs. They liked clear visuals, replay options, and no clinic noise. They called the tools practical and easy to repeat each night.

Bergmann et al. (2019) pooled earlier trials and showed any behavioral sleep plan adds about 24 minutes of total sleep for autistic children. The new telehealth data line up with that average, so the remote model keeps the same benefit.

Martin et al. (2023) tried telehealth parent training for disruptive behavior and also saw high parent satisfaction. Both studies now suggest remote coaching works across problem types—sleep or behavior—when parents lead the practice.

Bianca et al. (2024) counted that one in three autistic children have insomnia. That big number explains why easy-to-reach treatments like the tested video program are worth offering first.

You can add CBT-CI to your telehealth toolbox tonight. Train parents in a short Zoom series, share bedtime charts, and track sleep with simple logs. No extra staff, no clinic space, and families keep the skills forever. Start with one family on your wait-list and measure sleep for two weeks—you will likely see quicker bedtimes and calmer evenings for both child and parents.