Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sleep in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Abstract

The aims of this chapter are to present the state of the science of sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hypotheses for the high prevalence of insomnia in children with ASD, and an ecological approach for promoting optimal sleep. An ecological approach includes environmental, sensory, culturally sensitive, and behavioral strategies. About two-thirds of children with ASD have chronic insomnia. The strongest evidence on promoting sleep in children with ASD is on sleep education, ecological changes, behavioral interventions, and exogenous melatonin. In 2012, the Sleep Committee of the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) developed a practice pathway, based on expert consensus, to capture best practices for screening, identification, and treatment for sleep problems in ASD. An exemplar case is presented to integrate key constructs of the practice pathway and address arousal dysregulation in a child with ASD and anxiety disorder. This chapter concludes with recommendations for dissemination of the practice pathway and future directions for research on insomnia in ASD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. DeVincent CJ, Gadow KD, Delosh D, Geller L. Sleep disturbance and its relation to DSM-IV psychiatric symptoms in preschool-age children with pervasive developmental disorder and community controls. J Child Neurol. 2007;22(2):161–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Robinson-Shelton A, Malow BA. Sleep disturbances in neurodevelopmental disorders. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2016;18(1):6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mazurek MO, Sohl K. Sleep and behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46:1906–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Souders M, Zavodny SE, Eriksen WT, Sinko R, Connell JE, Kerns C, et al. Sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017;19(6):34.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Christensen CL, Baio J, Van Naarden Braun K, Bilder D, Charles J, Constantino JN, Daniels J, Durkin MS, Fitzgerald RT, Kurzius-Spencer M, Lee L, Pettygrove S, Robinson C, Schulz E, Wells C, Wingate MS, Zahorodny W, Yeargin-Allsopp M. Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012;65(3):1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Baio J, Wiggins L, Christensen D, et al. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years – autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2014. Centers Dis Control. 2018 Contract No.: 6.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Parikshak NN, Luo R, Zhang A, Won H, Lowe JK, Chandran V, et al. Integrative functional genomic analyses implicate specific molecular pathways and circuits in autism. Cell. 2013;155(5):1008–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Werling DM, Parikshak NN, Geschwind DH. Gene expression in human brain implicates sexually dimorphic pathways in autism spectrum disorders. Nat Commun. 2016;7:10717.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yang Z, Matsumoto A, Nakayama K, Jimbo EF, Kojima K, Nagata K, et al. Circadian-relevant genes are highly polymorphic in autism spectrum disorder patients. Brain Dev. 2016;38(1):91–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Willsey AJ, Sanders SJ, Li M, Dong S, Tebbenkamp AT, Muhle RA, et al. Coexpression networks implicate human midfetal deep cortical projection neurons in the pathogenesis of autism. Cell. 2013;155(5):997–1007.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Wood CL, Warnell F, Johnson M, Hames A, Pearce MS, McConachie H, et al. Evidence for ASD recurrence rates and reproductive stoppage from large UK ASD research family databases. Autism Res. 2015;8(1):73–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Risch N, Hoffmann TJ, Anderson M, Croen LA, Grether JK, Windham GC. Familial recurrence of autism spectrum disorder: evaluating genetic and environmental contributions. Am J Psychiatry. 2014;171(11):1206–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Eapen V, Crncec R, Walter A. Clinical outcomes of an early intervention program for preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a community group setting. BMC Pediatr. 2013;13(1):3.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Eapen V, Crncec R, Walter A. Exploring links between genotypes, phenotypes, and clinical predictors of response to early intensive behavioral intervention in autism spectrum disorder. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:567.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kanner L. Problems of nosology and psychodynamics of early infantile autism. Am J Orthop. 1949;19(3):416–26.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kanner L. Irrelevant and metaphorical language in early infantile autism. Am J Psychiatry. 1946;103(2):242–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Cohen D, Volkmar F. Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. 2nd ed. Toronto: Wiley; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  18. World Health Organization. International classification of diseases and related health problems 10th revision, 2015. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/classifications/icd10/browse/2015/en [accessed 2016].

  19. Lord C, Rutter M, Le Couteur A. Autism diagnostic interview-revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994;24(5):659–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Owens JA, Mindell JA. Pediatric insomnia. Pediatr Clin N Am. 2011;58(3):555–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Richdale AL, Schreck KA. Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, nature, & possible biopsychosocial aetiologies. Sleep Med Rev. 2009;13(6):403–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wiggs L, Stores G. Sleep patterns and sleep disorders in children with autistic spectrum disorders: insights using parent report and actigraphy. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2004;46(6):372–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schreck KA, Mulick JA, Smith AF. Sleep problems as possible predictors of intensified symptoms of autism. Res Dev Disabil. 2004;25(1):57–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Goodlin-Jones BL, Tang K, Liu J, Anders TF. Sleep patterns in preschool-age children with autism, developmental delay, and typical development. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008;47(8):930–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Souders MC, Mason TB, Valladares O, Bucan M, Levy SE, Mandell DS, et al. Sleep behaviors and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorders. Sleep. 2009;32(12):1566–78.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Owens J. Classification and epidemiology of childhood sleep disorders. Prim Care. 2008;35(3):533–46. vii

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Malow BA, Crowe C, Henderson L, McGrew SG, Wang L, Song Y, et al. A sleep habits questionnaire for children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol. 2009;24(1):19–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Meltzer LJ. Brief report: sleep in parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. J Pediatr Psychol. 2008;33(4):380–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Elrod MG, Hood BS. Sleep differences among children with autism spectrum disorders and typically developing peers: a meta-analysis. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2015;36(3):166–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Adkins KW, Goldman SE, Fawkes D, Surdyka K, Wang L, Song Y, et al. A pilot study of shoulder placement for actigraphy in children. Behav Sleep Med. 2012;10(2):138–47.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Bourgeron T. The possible interplay of synaptic and clock genes in autism spectrum disorders. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 2007;72:645–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Malow BA, Adkins KW, Reynolds A, Weiss SK, Loh A, Fawkes D, et al. Parent-based sleep education for children with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(1):216–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Mindell JA, Meltzer LJ. Behavioural sleep disorders in children and adolescents. Ann Acad Med Singap. 2008;37(8):722–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Meltzer LJ, Johnson C, Crosette J, Ramos M, Mindell JA. Prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders in pediatric primary care practices. Pediatrics. 2010;125(6):e1410–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tordjman S, Najjar I, Bellissant E, Anderson GM, Barburoth M, Cohen D, et al. Advances in the research of melatonin in autism spectrum disorders: literature review and new perspectives. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14(10):20508–42.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. AARC-APT (American Association of Respiratory Care-Association of Polysomnography Technologists) clinical practice guideline. Polysomnography. Respir Care. 1995;40(12):1336–43.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ornitz EM, Ritvo ER, Brown MB, La Franchi S, Parmelee T, Walter RD. The EEG and rapid eye movements during REM sleep in normal and autistic children. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1969;26(2):167–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Tanguay PE, Ornitz EM, Forsythe AB, Ritvo ER. Rapid eye movement (REM) activity in normal and autistic children during REM sleep. J Autism Child Schizophr. 1976;6(3):275–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Avidan A. Review of sleep medicine. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Diomedi M, Curatolo P, Scalise A, Placidi F, Caretto F, Gigli GL. Sleep abnormalities in mentally retarded autistic subjects: Down’s syndrome with mental retardation and normal subjects. Brain Dev. 1999;21(8):548–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Elia M, Ferri R, Musumeci SA, Del Gracco S, Bottitta M, Scuderi C, et al. Sleep in subjects with autistic disorder: a neurophysiological and psychological study. Brain Dev. 2000;22(2):88–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Godbout R, Bergeron C, Limoges E, Stip E, Mottron L. A laboratory study of sleep in Asperger’s syndrome. Neuroreport. 2000;11(1):127–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Thirumalai SS, Shubin RA, Robinson R. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in children with autism. J Child Neurol. 2002;17(3):173–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Malow BA, Marzec ML, McGrew SG, Wang L, Henderson LM, Stone WL. Characterizing sleep in children with autism spectrum disorders: a multidimensional approach. Sleep. 2006;29(12):1563–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Buckley AW, Rodriguez AJ, Jennison K, Buckley J, Thurm A, Sato S, et al. Rapid eye movement sleep percentage in children with autism compared with children with developmental delay and typical development. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010;164(11):1032–7.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Wimpory D, Nicholas B, Nash S. Social timing, clock genes and autism: a new hypothesis. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2002;46(Pt 4):352–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Tordjman S, Anderson GM, Pichard N, Charbuy H, Touitou Y. Nocturnal excretion of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin in children and adolescents with autistic disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2005;57(2):134–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Tordjman S, Davlantis KS, Georgieff N, Geoffray MM, Speranza M, Anderson GM, et al. Autism as a disorder of biological and behavioral rhythms: toward new therapeutic perspectives. Front Pediatr. 2015;3:1.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Botbol M, Cabon P, Kermarrec S, Tordjman S. Biological and psychological rhythms: an integrative approach to rhythm disturbances in autistic disorder. J Physiol Paris. 2013;107(4):298–309.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Travnickova-Bendova Z, Cermakian N, Reppert SM, Sassone-Corsi P. Bimodal regulation of mPeriod promoters by CREB-dependent signaling and CLOCK/BMAL1 activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002;99(11):7728–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Etchegaray JP, Lee C, Wade PA, Reppert SM. Rhythmic histone acetylation underlies transcription in the mammalian circadian clock. Nature. 2003;421(6919):177–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Sasaki M, Yoshitane H, Du NH, Okano T, Fukada Y. Preferential inhibition of BMAL2-CLOCK activity by PER2 reemphasizes its negative role and a positive role of BMAL2 in the circadian transcription. J Biol Chem. 2009;284(37):25149–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Barnes JW, Tischkau SA, Barnes JA, Mitchell JW, Burgoon PW, Hickok JR, et al. Requirement of mammalian timeless for circadian rhythmicity. Science. 2003;302(5644):439–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Leroy C, Landais E, Briault S, David A, Tassy O, Gruchy N, et al. The 2q37-deletion syndrome: an update of the clinical spectrum including overweight, brachydactyly and behavioural features in 14 new patients. Eur J Hum Genet. 2013;21(6):602–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Nicholas B, Rudrasingham V, Nash S, Kirov G, Owen MJ, Wimpory DC. Association of Per1 and Npas2 with autistic disorder: support for the clock genes/social timing hypothesis. Mol Psychiatry. 2007;12(6):581–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Ritvo ERRR, Yuliwer A, Brothers A, Freeman BJ, Plotkin S. Elevated daytime melatonin concentration in autism. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1993;2:75–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Nir I, Meir D, Zilber N, Knobler H, Hadjez J, Lerner Y. Brief report: circadian melatonin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and cortisol levels in serum of young adults with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1995;25(6):641–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Kulman G, Lissoni P, Rovelli F, Roselli MG, Brivio F, Sequeri P. Evidence of pineal endocrine hypofunction in autistic children. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2000;21(1):31–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Melke J, Goubran Botros H, Chaste P, Betancur C, Nygren G, Anckarsater H, et al. Abnormal melatonin synthesis in autism spectrum disorders. Mol Psychiatry. 2008;13(1):90–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Mulder EJ, Anderson GM, Kemperman RF, Oosterloo-Duinkerken A, Minderaa RB, Kema IP. Urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, serotonin and 6-sulphatoxymelatonin in normoserotonemic and hyperserotonemic autistic individuals. Neuropsychobiology. 2010;61(1):27–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Veatch OJ, Veenstra-Vanderweele J, Potter M, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines JL. Genetically meaningful phenotypic subgroups in autism spectrum disorders. Genes Brain Behav. 2014;13(3):276–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Chaste P, Clement N, Mercati O, Guillaume JL, Delorme R, Botros HG, et al. Identification of pathway-biased and deleterious melatonin receptor mutants in autism spectrum disorders and in the general population. PLoS One. 2010;5(7):e11495.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Jonsson L, Ljunggren E, Bremer A, Pedersen C, Landen M, Thuresson K, et al. Mutation screening of melatonin-related genes in patients with autism spectrum disorders. BMC Med Genet. 2010;3:10.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Gupta R, Hutchins J. Melatonin: a panacea for desperate parents? (Hype or truth). Arch Dis Child. 2005;90(9):986–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Andersen IM, Kaczmarska J, McGrew SG, Malow BA. Melatonin for insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Child Neurol. 2008;23(5):482–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Galli-Carminati G, Deriaz N, Bertschy G. Melatonin in treatment of chronic sleep disorders in adults with autism: a retrospective study. Swiss Med Wkly. 2009;139(19–20):293–6.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Jan JE, Espezel H, Appleton RE. The treatment of sleep disorders with melatonin. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1994;36(2):97–107.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Ishizaki A, Sugama M, Takeuchi N. Usefulness of melatonin for developmental sleep and emotional/behavior disorders – studies of melatonin trial on 50 patients with developmental disorders. No To Hattatsu. 1999;31(5):428–37.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Paavonen EJ, Nieminen-von Wendt T, Vanhala R, Aronen ET, von Wendt L. Effectiveness of melatonin in the treatment of sleep disturbances in children with Asperger disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2003;13(1):83–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Giannotti F, Cortesi F, Cerquiglini A, Bernabei P. An open-label study of controlled-release melatonin in treatment of sleep disorders in children with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006;36(6):741–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. De Leersnyder H, Zisapel N, Laudon M. Prolonged-release melatonin for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Pediatr Neurol. 2011;45(1):23–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Malow B, Adkins KW, McGrew SG, Wang L, Goldman SE, Fawkes D, Burnette C. Melatonin for sleep in children with autism: a controlled trial examining dose, tolerability and outcomes. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;42:1729–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. McArthur AJ, Budden SS. Sleep dysfunction in Rett syndrome: a trial of exogenous melatonin treatment. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1998;40(3):186–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Garstang J, Wallis M. Randomized controlled trial of melatonin for children with autistic spectrum disorders and sleep problems. Child Care Health Dev. 2006;32(5):585–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Wasdell MB, Jan JE, Bomben MM, Freeman RD, Rietveld WJ, Tai J, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of controlled release melatonin treatment of delayed sleep phase syndrome and impaired sleep maintenance in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. J Pineal Res. 2008;44(1):57–64.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Wirojanan J, Jacquemont S, Diaz R, Bacalman S, Anders TF, Hagerman RJ, et al. The efficacy of melatonin for sleep problems in children with autism, fragile X syndrome, or autism and fragile X syndrome. J Clin Sleep Med. 2009;5(2):145–50.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Wright B, Sims D, Smart S, Alwazeer A, Alderson-Day B, Allgar V, et al. Melatonin versus placebo in children with autism spectrum conditions and severe sleep problems not amenable to behaviour management strategies: a randomised controlled crossover trial. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011;41(2):175–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Cortesi F, Giannotti F, Sebastiani T, Panunzi S, Valente D. Controlled-release melatonin, singly and combined with cognitive behavioural therapy, for persistent insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Sleep Res. 2012;21(6):700–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Gringras P, Gamble C, Jones AP, Wiggs L, Williamson PR, Sutcliffe A, et al. Melatonin for sleep problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: randomised double masked placebo controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;345:e6664.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Goldman SE, Adkins KW, Calcutt MW, Carter MD, Goodpaster RL, Wang L, et al. Melatonin in children with autism spectrum disorders: endogenous and pharmacokinetic profiles in relation to sleep. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(10):2525–35.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Hall M, Buysse DJ, Dew MA, Prigerson HG, Kupfer DJ, Reynolds CF 3rd. Intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors are associated with sleep disturbances in bereavement-related depression. Depress Anxiety. 1997;6(3):106–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Levenson JC, Kay DB, Buysse DJ. The pathophysiology of insomnia. Chest. 2015;147(4):1179–92.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Perlis ML, Smith MT, Orff H, Enright T, Nowakowski S, Jungquist C, et al. The effects of modafinil and cognitive behavior therapy on sleep continuity in patients with primary insomnia. Sleep. 2004;27(4):715–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Bonnet MH, Arand DL. Hyperarousal and insomnia: state of the science. Sleep Med Rev. 2010;14(1):9–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Feige B, Baglioni C, Spiegelhalder K, Hirscher V, Nissen C, Riemann D. The microstructure of sleep in primary insomnia: an overview and extension. Int J Psychophysiol. 2013;89(2):171–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Healey ES, Kales A, Monroe LJ, Bixler EO, Chamberlin K, Soldatos CR. Onset of insomnia: role of life-stress events. Psychosom Med. 1981;43(5):439–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Morin CM, Rodrigue S, Ivers H. Role of stress, arousal, and coping skills in primary insomnia. Psychosom Med. 2003;65(2):259–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Hutt C, Hutt SJ, Lee D, Ounsted C. Arousal and childhood autism. Nature. 1964;204:908–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  90. Dawson G, Finley C, Phillips S, Galpert L, Lewy A. Reduced P3 amplitude of the event-related brain potential: its relationship to language ability in autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 1988;18(4):493–504.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. van Engeland H. The electrodermal orienting response to auditive stimuli in autistic children, normal children, mentally retarded children, and child psychiatric patients. J Autism Dev Disord. 1984;14(3):261–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Barry RJ, James AL. Coding of stimulus parameters in autistic, retarded, and normal children: evidence for a two-factor theory of autism. Int J Psychophysiol. 1988;6(2):139–49.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Palkovitz RJ, Wiesenfeld AR. Differential autonomic responses of autistic and normal children. J Autism Dev Disord. 1980;10(3):347–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Hirstein W, Iversen P, Ramachandran VS. Autonomic responses of autistic children to people and objects. Proc Biol Sci. 2001;268(1479):1883–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  95. Ming X, Julu PO, Brimacombe M, Connor S, Daniels ML. Reduced cardiac parasympathetic activity in children with autism. Brain Dev. 2005;27(7):509–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  96. White SW, Lerner MD, McLeod BD, Wood JJ, Ginsburg GS, Kerns C, et al. Anxiety in youth with and without autism spectrum disorder: examination of factorial equivalence. Behav Ther. 2015;46(1):40–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  97. Kerns CM, Maddox BB, Kendall PC, Rump K, Berry L, Schultz RT, et al. Brief measures of anxiety in non-treatment-seeking youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism. 2015;19(8):969–79.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  98. Kerns CM, Kendall PC, Berry L, Souders MC, Franklin ME, Schultz RT, et al. Traditional and atypical presentations of anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014;44(11):2851–61.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Yerys BE, Wallace GL, Sokoloff JL, Shook DA, James JD, Kenworthy L. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms moderate cognition and behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Res. 2009;2(6):322–33.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  100. Aston-Jones G, Rajkowski J, Cohen J. Role of locus coeruleus in attention and behavioral flexibility. Biol Psychiatry. 1999;46(9):1309–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  101. Aston-Jones G, Cohen JD. An integrative theory of locus coeruleus-norepinephrine function: adaptive gain and optimal performance. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2005;28:403–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. Panju S, Brian J, Dupuis A, Anagnostou E, Kushki A. Atypical sympathetic arousal in children with autism spectrum disorder and its association with anxiety symptomatology. Mol Autism. 2015;6:64.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  103. Brennan AR, Arnsten AF. Neuronal mechanisms underlying attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the influence of arousal on prefrontal cortical function. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1129:236–45.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  104. Swanson LW. The locus coeruleus: a cytoarchitectonic, Golgi and immunohistochemical study in the albino rat. Brain Res. 1976;110(1):39–56.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  105. Swanson LW, Hartman BK. The central adrenergic system. An immunofluorescence study of the location of cell bodies and their efferent connections in the rat utilizing dopamine-beta-hydroxylase as a marker. J Comp Neurol. 1975;163(4):467–505.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  106. Aston-Jones G, Bloom FE. Activity of norepinephrine-containing locus coeruleus neurons in behaving rats anticipates fluctuations in the sleep-waking cycle. J Neurosci. 1981;1(8):876–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  107. Aston-Jones G, Bloom FE. Norepinephrine-containing locus coeruleus neurons in behaving rats exhibit pronounced responses to non-noxious environmental stimuli. J Neurosci. 1981;1(8):887–900.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  108. Valentino RJ, Van Bockstaele E. Convergent regulation of locus coeruleus activity as an adaptive response to stress. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;583(2–3):194–203.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  109. Spielman AJ, Caruso LS, Glovinsky PB. A behavioral perspective on insomnia treatment. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 1987;10(4):541–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Malow BA, Byars K, Johnson K, Weiss S, Bernal P, Goldman SE, et al. A practice pathway for the identification, evaluation, and management of insomnia in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2012;130(Suppl 2):S106–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  111. Souders MC, Connell JE, Schaaf R, Kerns CM, Eriksen WT, Zavodny SE, et al. Pilot randomized control trial of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia modified for families with a child with autism spectrum disorder. San Francisco: International Meeting for Autism Research; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  112. ATN/AIR-P Sleep Tool Kits. Autism treatment network & autism intervention network on physical health; [cited 2018 April 12]. Available from: https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/resources-programs/autism-treatment-network/tools-you-can-use/sleep-tool-kit.

  113. Owens JA, Spirito A, McGuinn M. The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Sleep. 2000;23(8):1043–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  114. Petit D, Touchette E, Tremblay RE, Boivin M, Montplaisir J. Dyssomnias and parasomnias in early childhood. Pediatrics. 2007;119(5):e1016–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  115. The Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale (PARS): development and psychometric properties. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002;41(9):1061–9.

    Google Scholar 

  116. Birmaher B, Khetarpal S, Brent D, Cully M, Balach L, Kaufman J, et al. The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED): scale construction and psychometric characteristics. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997;36(4):545–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  117. Foundation NS. How much sleep do we really need? 2016. Available from: https://sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biobehavioral and Health Sciences Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Margaret C. Souders

  2. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Margaret C. Souders

  3. School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Whitney T. Eriksen & Stefanie Zavodny

  4. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Amanda E. Bennett

  5. Clinical Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Raghuram Prasad

  6. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Autism Integrated Care Program, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Raghuram Prasad

Authors
  1. Margaret C. Souders
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Whitney T. Eriksen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Amanda E. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raghuram Prasad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stefanie Zavodny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margaret C. Souders .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA

    Jennifer A. Accardo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Souders, M.C., Eriksen, W.T., Bennett, A.E., Prasad, R., Zavodny, S. (2019). Autism Spectrum Disorder. In: Accardo, J. (eds) Sleep in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98414-8_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98414-8_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98412-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98414-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation