Chapter 7: Sleep Disturbance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Impact on Family Functioning and Quality of Life

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects all areas of child development and causes difficulty with social interaction and communication (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). As children live within a family system that is dynamic and complex, symptoms associated with ASD present significant challenges that may affect their parents’ quality of life. Raising a child with ASD has been associated with difficulties in multiple areas of parent health and well-being, including increased stress and depression (Carter, Martinez-Pedraza, & Gray, 2009; Glasberg, Martins, & Harris, 2007; Lloyd & Hastings, 2008).

Sleep disturbance includes sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, enuresis, and narcolepsy; complaints of sleep problems on the other hand, include daytime sleepiness, change in sleep location, difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, early morning waking, and restless sleep (American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2014; Brown & McMullen, 2001; Owens, 2005). Often, sleep problems can be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. Sleep disturbance may also be associated with a range of medical and psychological conditions including gastrointestinal symptoms, epilepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety—conditions that are common in ASD (see Chapters 3, 4, and 5). It is well known that sleep disturbance is frequent among children with ASD. What is less well understood is the impact that these sleep disturbances in children with ASD can have on family functioning and quality of life. The purpose of this chapter is to review existing literature that focuses on the relationship between sleep disturbance in children with ASD and their parents’ sleep and daytime functioning. We will also present a clinical case example that highlights the importance of clinical management of the child’s sleep disturbance for families.