Sleeping Difficulties In Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder is commonly associated with a wide range of sleeping problems, which is a prominent feature having impacts on day-to-day occurrences such as social interaction, academic achievement, and more. A replenishing good night’s sleep is unfortunately not guaranteed for anyone, but it is straight-up unfeasible for many patients on the spectrum. Such individuals often have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.
Such difficulty in sleep may lead to sleep deprivation, and overall worsens specific features of their condition such as repetitive behaviors, making sleep even more difficult in the long run. With all that being said, sleeping problems are one of the most extreme concerns for families grappling with autism, but it also happen to be the least spoken upon and studied.
Types of common sleep problems in autism:
Individuals with autism commonly tend to have insomnia, and they are known to take an average of 11 minutes longer than typical people to fall asleep. Along with that, it is common that they will wake up frequently throughout the night. Some individuals also have a condition known as sleep apnea, which causes an individual to completely lose the ability to breathe several times during the night. Restorative sleep occurs when brain activity during sleep restores your body and mind, Although, unlike post typical people, sleep in people with autism may be less restorative. They spend about 15 percent of their time asleep in the REM stage also known as the rapid eye movement stage, which is a critical stage for learning and retaining information. To put this into comparison to most neurotypical people who spend about 23 percent of their nightly rest in the REM, who spend a much larger chunk of their sleep in this important stage.
Why do people on the spectrum have problems with sleeping?
Many people with autism have conditions such as gastrointestinal problems, attention deficits, ADHD, anxiety, and more that are all well known to put a toll on sleep. Sensory sensitivities to small sounds, light, and touch, may also contribute to the lack of sleep. There are huge possibilities of sleep problems being an indicator of depression in autistic individuals, which is why it is imperative to be aware of such instances and seek help from a professional regarding assistance to aid these issues.
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