Sleep and quality of life in autism

Abstract

Disordered sleep affects daytime health and behavioral functioning in a variety of neurologic and psychiatric conditions. Sleep disorders lead to a multitude of secondary behavioral effects that affect both the individual and the family (1). Daytime sleepiness resulting from disrupted sleep often manifests itself in typically developing children as hyperactivity, inattention, and aggression (2). Those with autism, a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties in language and social communication with restricted and repetitive behaviors, may be at even higher risk for sleep disorders given the overlap of autism with sleep. In turn, behaviors inherent to autism, such as impairments in communication and stereotypies, may be exacerbated by sleepiness and interfere with the child's ability to function optimally, thereby affecting quality of life in autism. Aggression and hyperactivity, two problematic behaviors frequently associated with autism, may be further exacerbated by lack of sleep in the child with autism. This chapter will review our current understanding of the neurobiology of autism, especially in reference to sleep-related aspects of this disorder. Sleep disorders in autism, including prevalence, etiology, evaluation, and treatment, will then be characterized. The impact of sleep disorders on daytime behavior and on quality of life in individuals affected with autism and their families will then be discussed. Our chapter will conclude with future research directions for advancing our knowledge in this field. © 2008 Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.