Research summaries for autism therapy: bedtime

definition of bedtime: Bedtime is a set of steps repeated nightly that end with a child falling asleep. Some children with autism have problems getting ready to sleep or sleeping. Bedtime may involve teeth brushing, a song or story, nightly prayers, and perhaps talking over the day’s activities.
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Parent-based Sleep Education Workshops in Autism, Summarized Jan 27, 2010

Educating parents about behavioral sleep strategies may improve sleep habits in their children with autism.

This study looked at whether a parent education program about sleep habits might help parents to create better habits at home.... Parents learned about setting good daytime, bedtime, and nighttime routines. They also learned strategies for dealing with their children if they wake up in the middle of the night.... Read more...

Sleep Problems in Children with Neurological Disorders, Summarized Sep 19, 2008

Many children with autism may be helped by a sleep specialist.

This review article describes the sleep problems that can come with autism. Many children with autism have trouble with the meaning of bedtime routines and therefore are not good at using bedtime routines to fall asleep more easily. It is hard to know if the sleep problem makes the autism worse or if the autism makes sleeping harder. Treatment with melatonin may be able to help with sleep problems in children with autism. Sleep problems may also be helped by teaching the family how best to prepare the child for sleep. Read more...

An Open-Label Study of Controlled-Release Melatonin in Treatment of Sleep Disorders in Children with Autism, Summarized Oct 25, 2006

Controlled-release melatonin may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for chronic sleep disorders.

Many children with autism have problems sleeping. Approximately half of children with autism required parental presence at bedtime. This is possibly because parents are trying to help children fall asleep and stay asleep. Sleep problems seem to start after the child turns one and persist through childhood and beyond. This prospective study evaluated the effectiveness of controlled-release melatonin given openly (not blinded) over a 24 month period. Children were given 3-6 mg of melatonin each night. Read more...

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