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Sleep–behaviour relationship in children with autism spectrum disorder: methodological pitfalls and insights from cognition and sensory processing
Author(s) -
Deliens Gaétane,
Peigneux Philippe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/dmcn.14235
Subject(s) - sensory processing , autism spectrum disorder , cognition , autism , sleep (system call) , psychology , sensory system , sleep disorder , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology , computer science , operating system
Sleep disturbances are frequent and varied in autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ). Growing evidence suggests that sleep problems in children with ASD are driven by their clinical characteristics and psychiatric comorbidities. Therefore, the wide range of reported sleep disturbances reflects the marked heterogeneity of clinical pictures in ASD . Whether sleep disturbances and their various forms may, in turn, account for at least part of the phenotypical variability of ASD is a crucial question discussed in this review. We first outline studies both validating and challenging a bidirectional theoretical framework for sleep disorders in children with ASD . We then propose to extend this model by including cognition and sensory processing as key factors in the vicious circle linking sleep disorders and autistic symptoms. What this paper adds There is a bidirectional interplay between autism symptoms and sleep disturbances. Sleep influence on daytime cognitive and sensory skills should be further investigated.