Chapter 3: Medical Issues Affecting Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A sleep history is an essential component of a comprehensive pediatric evaluation. This is especially true of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) since most estimates indicate that about 50 to 80% of children with ASD have sleep difficulties (Couturier et al., 2005; Krakowiak, Goodlin-Jones, Hertz-Picciotto, Croen, & Hansen, 2008; Richdale & Schreck, 2009; Souders et al., 2009; Veatch, Maxwell-Horn, & Malow, 2015). Families may not volunteer information about sleep due to their focus on daytime behavioral issues or because they have not considered the idea that their child’s sleep patterns could be changed (Wiggs & Stores, 1996). Clinicians, therefore, need to take the lead in specifically asking about sleep-related difficulties. Identifying and treating sleep issues may help both nighttime and daytime functioning and may improve the health and quality of life of the entire family (Quine, 1991).