Parents of autistic children often struggle to get them to sleep, and therefore struggle with their own sleep as well. However, we all know the importance of ensuring children get the sleep that they need in order to get the most out of the various therapies and efforts being made to improve their symptoms. However, it can be easier said than done!
Over-sensitivity to stimuli can be a frustrating challenge for both autistic children and their parents. Over-reaction to various sounds in the child's environment, as well as smells, lights, or any other sensations may make it difficult for a child to fall asleep or stay asleep. Many autistic children have sensory issues within their sleep environment. This can make it difficult for them to relax enough to fall asleep or to find a comfortable position in which to sleep.
In Siegal's book The World of the Autistic Child, it was suggested that the sleep problems faced by autistic children may also be a result of the way autistic neurotransmitters in the brain function. It stated that about 56 percent of autistic children struggle with sleep-related issues that they will rarely "grow out of".
So one of the first steps for remedying the lack of sleep is to try to identify what is causing your child to struggle to sleep. Is it anxiety, sensory issues, medical issues, attention seeking, or something in the bedroom itself?
The following tips are for parents to help their autistic children get to sleep and stay that way until morning:
- Set a bedtime and stick to it, including the routines that occur before bedtime. This allows the child to experience a degree of consistency and predictability, which is often vital to an autistic child's proper functioning.
- Provide your autistic child with visual rules that indicate the rule for staying in one's room or bed at night. These visual rules should be posted in various visible areas of the bedroom.
- Pair the bedtime rules and routines that you create with social stories that can help to speak to your autistic child's sleep-related anxieties.
- Change the bedroom environment to make it more appealing to your autistic child. While some autistic children respond well to having a nightlight, others require total darkness with a black out blind over the window for blocking the exterior light as well. Many autistic children sleep better when their bed is pushed up against the wall, as they feel more secure; a corner is even better. To block out any sounds that may be distressing your child, use a white noise machine or run a fan in your child's bedroom.
- If you usually sleep in the same bed as your autistic child and he or she is struggling to sleep alone, "replace" yourself with a sleeping bag or body pillow to mimic the pressure that would usually exist if you were lying in the bed.
- Use layers for your child's pajamas and tuck him or her in well so that any tactile sensitivity will be minimized.
By rooting out any disturbances causing your child not to sleep and by introducing routines and an effective sleeping environment, your autistic child should be able to enjoy a great deal more sleep - as will you.
References: http://www.hsc.mb.ca/autismprogram/topic_of_the_month.htm
Related Articles
Autism Symptoms - Detect Them Early
By: Namsing Then | 11/07/2006 | Non-Fiction
Autism is a brain disorder that begins in early childhood, usually within the first three years of life and persists throughout adulthood.
Autism - Know Your Legal Rights
By: Paul Hata | 15/08/2008 | Health
Every American citizen is protected under the constitution, and there are special laws that have been passed to help protect people with autism and other disabilities. By knowing the laws that protect you or your autistic loved ones, you can live in a world that provides better opportunities to everyone, regardless of not only disability, but also race, gender, and ethnicity.
How To Deal With Autism In The Family
By: Paul Hata | 18/08/2008 | Health
One way to ensure that you or your child receives the best possible treatment for autism is to carefully monitor the effects a treatment has over time. By finding out which treatments work and which do not, you can stop paying for the ineffective methods and put more of your money into those which are creating a positive difference.
Autism, the Common Form of Disorder in Humans
By: Bishal Boro | 04/08/2006 | Advice
The precise etiology of autism is unidentified; researchers believe that autism is the consequences of genetically mediate vulnerabilities to the ecological triggers. There is deviation about the nature of mechanism and magnitude for such ecological factor;
Autism - Dietary Concerns For Autistic Children
By: Paul Hata | 15/08/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Autism is a disorder that must be treated with a variety of methods since there is no effective way to completely cure it. One of the ways you can help keep the symptoms of autism under control is by studying diet. Parents of children with autism have reported that by controlling diet, they see a significant difference in their child's behavior.
Autism - Finding The Cause and Source
By: Paul Hata | 19/08/2008 | Health
Nobody knows what causes autism.Therefore, we can do nothing to prevent and cure it, but rather we can simply treat the autistic people in our lives with the best of our ability.Becoming educated in autism is the key - the more you know about the disorder, the better you can help individuals who suffer from it.
Why It Can Be So Difficult To Get An Autism Diagnosis
By: Rachel Evans | 26/03/2007 | Health
An autism diagnosis can still be difficult to obtain despite the studies that have helped people better understand autism. The reason is because there are many factors that need to be considered when making a diagnosis.
First of all, there is more than one type of autism disorder and there are...
Autistic Children - Pride and Prejudice
By: Paul Hata | 15/08/2008 | Health
Does this family member insist on treating your autistic child the same way he or she treats all the other children in your family, even when it is inappropriate? These are signs that this relative is not receptive to either your autistic child or the situation. This may often be the case when discovering a child is autistic, so as a parent, be aware and prepared for this to happen.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Health Articles
The Dreaded Back Pain
By: Mandy Chagger | 06/09/2008
The most dreaded back pain is lower back pain, which could be a symptom of various complications in the abdomen area.
Stress - Types, Causes and Cures (part Three)
By: Andrew Tomkinson | 06/09/2008
This article is part one of my article series 'Stress - types, causes and cures'. It is written in order to introduce you to the types and causes of stress and suggest possible cures.
What are Toxins and How Do I Get Rid of Them?
By: James Carden | 06/09/2008
Toxins are an integral part of our everyday lives. Pollution, pesticides, cigarettes, bad water and harmful cleaning products are only a few of the different sources of toxins that can cause our bodies to malfunction and that we come in contact with on a daily basis.
Sun Damage Prevention
By: John Russell | 06/09/2008
In our continuing efforts to maintain youthful skin, we cannot neglect what may be the one true beauty secret. Effective protection from the sun can prevent damage to the skin. Even without actual sunburn, exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause wrinkles, age spots, skin cancer, and other generally weathering effects.
What Makes Smoke Inhalation Dangerous
By: Rachel Yoshida | 06/09/2008
Most would agree that it is not natural, but what really happens when smoke is inhaled?
Dealing With Menstrual Flooding
By: Rachel Yoshida | 06/09/2008
It is not a popular subject,but there are many that needs this information if you are having trouble in this area.
Treatments And Medications for ADHD
By: Paul Hata | 06/09/2008
There are mainly two types of treatment which is generally used to cure the ADHD types of treatment for ADHD; pharmacological and non-pharmacological. It is been found out in various studies that 70% to 80% children are benefited by the stimulant drugs.
How to Prevent Stomach Ache and Abdominal Pain
By: Robert Sifer | 05/09/2008
For stomachache in children, parents should notice habits and symptoms of their children. For adults, they also should notice themselves which food that they consume always cause stomach pain to them and try not to eat those food.
More from Rachel Evans
Getting Started With Autism Music Therapy
By: Rachel Evans | 29/08/2008 | Education
Studies and anecdotal evidence alike are clearly showing that therapy based on music can have a significant impact on reducing the symptoms of autism in children including undesirable autistic behaviors. Music therapy is a form of autism treatment based on carefully planned musical exercises and experiences. It is carefully evaluated...
Does Your Child Have a History of Autism and Seizures?
By: Rachel Evans | 19/08/2008 | Health
If your child has a history of autism, then you will want to watch for one of the more serious symptoms: seizures. The first thing that you will have to learn if your autistic child experiences seizures is how to recognize an emergency. The following conditions make...
Guiding Your Autistic Child Through Puberty
By: Rachel Evans | 12/08/2008 | Parenting
Even without autism, puberty can be a very delicate and trying time for a family. When autism is involved, however, things can become much more complicated. Many parents approach this period of their child's life with fear and trepidation. However, it is best if you attempt to approach this time...
The Benefits of Animal Therapy For Autism
By: Rachel Evans | 06/08/2008 | Health
For those of us who have had pets in our lives, it's no great surprise to learn that interactions with animals can have therapeutic and healing benefits. Many animals soothe, comfort, and calm, just by their quiet presence. And animals are now also being used as a form of autism...
Diagnosing Autism and the Differences With Sensory Integration Disorder
By: Rachel Evans | 31/07/2008 | Health
When it comes to diagnosing autism, there are many different factors that need to be considered. This is because the autism spectrum disorders have such a vast range of potential symptoms and no two cases are alike. Therefore, it is very easy to mistake autism for another condition....
Is B6 And Magnesium Therapy Right For Your Autistic Child?
By: Rachel Evans | 24/07/2008 | Health
Recently, there has been a movement among some parents of autistic children toward a therapy that involves the use of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium. However, before jumping on the bandwagon, it is a good idea to know what is involved in the treatment and understand the pros and cons of...
Teaching Children With Autism Better Verbal Communication Skills
By: Rachel Evans | 21/06/2008 | Education
Children with autism commonly face problems with verbal communication. This is usually due to the frequent speech and language problems associated with the disorder. Though the actual reason that these problems are faced by autistic children is unknown, many experts believe that they are the result of several...
Are Aspergers and High Functioning Autism the Same Thing?
By: Rachel Evans | 13/06/2008 | Health
One of the most common mistakes made about autism is that Asperger's Syndrome and high functioning autism are the same thing. Many parents struggle with this problem because there is so much information out there that uses the two terms interchangeably. There are many crossover symptoms between Asperger's Syndrome and...
Health 
