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Sleep problems can worsen certain behaviors and hinder daytime functioning for many with autism, making a good night’s rest even more elusive.

Researchers have noted a correlation between poor sleep and autism symptoms and correlation doesn’t always mean causation – for instance, children with severe autism might sleep less due to similar factors.

Anxiety

People living with autism often also exhibit anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a hallmark of ASD and may interfere with sleep. An individual with ASD might become anxious in social settings, relationships and bodily sensations such as headaches and stomachaches; and may act aggressively due to anxiety.

Studies indicate that more than half of those with ASD suffer from anxiety disorders. The prevalence of anxiety among these individuals can differ depending on who reports and measures the condition; studies relying solely on single reporters — such as parents or teachers — tend to find lower anxiety rates among these individuals than studies taking into account multiple sources.

Anxiety can impede our ability to maintain regular sleep cycles and a good circadian rhythm – essential components of healthful functioning. Anxiety may also contribute to difficulty with emotional regulation and an increase in self-injury tendencies; furthermore, anxiety can make focusing difficult at school or work which has negative repercussions for daytime behaviors and relationships.

According to 2020 research, it may be that people with ASD exhibit activation in the same brain region associated with anxiety — the amygdala — which may contribute to coexisting anxiety symptoms. Other researchers have speculated that anxiety symptoms could stem from communication and relationship challenges rather than social deficits.

Finding effective treatment can make a big difference. Non-pharmacological strategies, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has been shown to significantly decrease anxiety for both autistic and neurotypical individuals. Supportive interventions such as changing sleeping environments or creating consistent bedtime routines may also prove helpful.

If these strategies fail to help improve your quality of sleep, consulting with a physician or psychiatrist may provide useful insight. They could suggest any number of potential causes of disturbances; such as an obstructive sleep apnea disorder or acid reflux can impede restful restful rest; medications used for treating other conditions, like ADD and ADHD have also been shown to interfere with restful restful restful restful restful restful restful sleep.

Toilet training

Toilet training may present many obstacles for children with autism. Many can experience sensory overstimulation when sitting or removing their pants – this often results in refusal or difficulty staying on the toilet. Furthermore, some children may have digestive issues like constipation or diarrhea which should be managed through professional healthcare guidance by using either a stool or suppository to relieve themselves.

Toilet training children with autism requires patience, perseverance and a carefully thought-out behavioral plan. Additionally, it’s crucial that they are developmentally ready – such as being able to physically pull their pants up and down independently without assistance, understanding wet/dry concept as well as body awareness/motor planning skills needed for positioning on toilet seat comfortably and communicating with others effectively.

Parents need to remain consistent when toilet training someone with autism, providing rewards for every success and creating visual toileting routines with rewards for success. Adults should initially prompt children for each step in the bathroom routine before gradually decreasing physical and verbal prompts until their child can perform it without assistance (i.e. removing their pants, wiping their bottom, flushing, and changing into underwear).

Once a child is familiar with all aspects of toileting, they should be encouraged to perform it independently by offering reinforcement for every success. A special bin containing their favorite treats, toys, stickers or iPad can be kept in the bathroom and only opened if they successfully use the toilet. Furthermore, a data chart should be created that shows when they are wet or dry as well as when they have had a bowel movement so parents can monitor progress over time.

Parents must also avoid reacting negatively to accidents. Doing so could teach their child that passing urine or feces is wrong, especially when angry or frustrated by what their parent is doing. Furthermore, people with autism tend not to be intrinsically motivated by what others are doing, making it harder for parents to motivate their children to use the toilet.

Sensory issues

Some individuals with autism suffer from sensory issues that interfere with how they see, hear, smell, taste and feel information. They may overreact or underreact to certain stimuli and find certain sensations uncomfortable, leading them to anxiety and behavioral issues – this condition is known as Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD and many but not all people diagnosed with autism experience it; experts speculate this may be linked to differences in how their brain processes sensory input.

Some children with sensory issues exhibit hypersensitive responses to touch, sound, scent and sight that can overwhelm them and they might hide or scream to escape from it all. Their reactions could also be set off by food smells or textures, loud noises and crowds, certain clothing fabrics or the touch of water or wind. Other children exhibit hyposensitive responses and crave movement – including fast spinning activities like trampolining or climbing playground equipment as well as extreme smells like their own body odour – or may lick things to get closer to its scent.

Sensory overload can result in meltdowns that range from verbal outbursts to physical self-harming behaviors like head banging and ear-clapping, often mistaken for regular temper tantrums but potentially life threatening if left untreated; seek medical advice if you suspect your child may be experiencing sensory difficulties.

Parents noticing their children have sensory issues may ask their doctor for referral to an occupational therapist for help. A detailed sensory checklist can assist in understanding what types of input trigger a reaction from your child; this list covers responses for all five senses as well as three other sensory areas like spatial orientation and balance (proprioception) and movement and posture (vestibular). SPD symptoms can often be found among kids diagnosed with ADHD, OCD or autism and may be compounded by medications as well as genetic, birth complications or environmental factors.

Electronics

Over half of children with autism and up to four out of five people diagnosed as adults experience sleep disruptions that impact both themselves and their family members, including behavioral challenges, impaired learning and reduced quality of life. Sleep disruptions can further exacerbate behavioral challenges while diminishing quality of life overall.

Reasons behind sleep difficulties in children with autism can be complex; one possible culprit may be low melatonin levels which help regulate our wake/sleep cycles. Studies have revealed that their levels tend to be lower compared to neurotypical children.

Another potential cause may be sensory issues. People with autism tend to be oversensitive to external stimuli, making it hard for them to relax for a restful sleep. This is particularly true if the individual struggles with understanding social cues that signal bedtime.

One of the primary problems associated with autism is their addiction to electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, particularly tablets and smartphones. While using such devices can improve non-verbal communication and handwriting abilities as well as make academic learning activities simpler, too much screen time may suppress melatonin production while disrupting stress-related hormones production.

As well, using their tablet or smartphone for self-stimulatory behaviors such as opening and closing one app multiple times or intentionally getting answers wrong just so they hear a sound-making app–can lead to bad habits that are hard to break. Therefore, it is crucial that parents provide electronic guidelines so that autistic children can use this time more productively, such as sleeping better at night.

Caregiver can do much to improve the quality of sleep for their autistic loved one, including creating a consistent bedtime and wake-up routine, using light therapy or a white noise machine, keeping the bedroom quiet, avoiding electronics in the hour before sleep begins, using light therapy to decrease ambient light or noise distractions and keeping a sleep diary for monitoring patterns that indicate any potential disruptive factors that must be addressed.