Powered By
My daughter with autism is 8 years old. Level 1 verbal. She has an occasional parasomnia called 'confusion arousal' in which she half-wakes up around 1 - 1.5 hours after going to sleep. She gets out of bed, walks, talks, but doesn't really make any sense (she is half-asleep) but is generally very distressed/worried and mumbles "Mom! Mom!" and mumbles some distressed nonsense from her dream/half-awake state. I walk her back to bed, say soothing things, offer a light hug. She'll cuddle her stuffie… read more
I would consider making sure that in the evenings that make sure you Don't have her doing or watch anything overstimulating and be cautious what she watches of she has TV time or screen time. Our son and daughter both struggle with this but our son has been diagnosed autistic for quite a while. The stress in the household makes a huge difference on the kids sleeping patterns. So my suggestion is try to keep as much stress away from her, and promote a calm environment would help.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3676289/
https://www.autismspeaks.org/tool-kit/strategie...
Additional Tips:
Create a sleep-conducive environment with a comfortable bed and supportive pillows.
Use blackout curtains to block out light.
Encourage regular exercise, but avoid strenuous activities close to bedtime.
Keep a sleep diary to track patterns and identify any triggers that may disrupt sleep
Confusional Arousals and Autism
Increased Prevalence: Research indicates that non-REM parasomnias, such as confusional arousals and sleep terrors, are more common in children with ASD than in their non-autistic peers.
Underlying Factors: While the direct cause is complex, potential contributing factors in individuals with ASD include:
Sensory Sensitivities: Heightened sensitivities to light, sound, or textures can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Sleep Disruption: Many children with ASD experience other sleep problems, including insomnia, which can predispose them to other parasomnias.
Neurobiological Differences: Dysregulation in brain arousal systems, like the norepinephrine system, is associated with ASD and may contribute to sleep and arousal issues, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Sleep issues are extremely common in people with autism, affecting up to 80% of individuals. These can include difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the night, or early morning awakening. When someone with autism is experiencing anxiety, illness, or gastrointestinal discomfort, these sleep difficulties can Show Full Answer
Join
Your Privacy Choices
