Coping with sleeping problems

I've noticed a link between Asperger's and sleep disorders. Individuals with Asperger's seem to have more difficulty when it comes to sleep than the average person. Before a parent of a child with Asperger's chooses to take a course of action to help their child sleep better, they must keep in mind that sleep disorders affect a large portion of the human population and that sleep disorders should be ruled out. One question that a parent needs to think about is whether or not the child has sleep apnea or enlarged tonsils. Sleep Apnea can affect anyone at any age. Sleep Apnea is a disorder in which a person experiences pauses in breathing when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep. Some cases are very severe while others are mild, but either way it should still be looked into.

Children with Asperger's are much more sensitive to stimuli than most people. They are more sensitive to light, sounds, taste, smells, and tactile sensations. Their sensitivity sometimes interferes with their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. A child's sense sense of temperature in his or her own room may affect their ability to sleep, and so might his or her pajamas. Maybe the child prefers a colder room. Maybe the child prefers to stick their feet outside of their blanket when they sleep. Usually children will need loosely-fitted pajamas that fit comfortably. Let's imagine it's 1:00am and all of a sudden a pet scratches at the door or makes noises. Or perhaps there is some running water. These noises may not affect the child's parents or anyone else in the house, but these noises are bound to affect the child and wake him or her up from sleep. Since children with Asperger's are sensitive to sound, the slightest noise can be disrupting to their sleep. A good solution for this is to play white noise while a child sleep. Soft music, TV, an air filter, a fan, or white noise machines are all methods that provide a consistent and comforting sound.

Establishing a consistent bedtime routine can provide a comforting, familiar pattern. A good bedtime routine can help teach a child to calm down, relax and get ready to sleep. Those with Asperger's often need routines; not just for when they sleep, so this is a beneficial method. Now, not all children will react well to routines. They might not want to go to sleep at that moment which will cause them to get upset. If a child with Asperger's is experiencing difficulties falling asleep or just flat out refuses to go to sleep, a good way to react to this would be to go back into the child’s room, briefly, and give the child a hug. Gently but firmly say, “it’s okay, it’s bedtime, you are okay” and then leave the room until the child falls asleep. Rubbing a child's head and using deep pressure exercises are also beneficial when trying to comfort a child when they are upset. Comforting stories before bedtime can lift a child's mood and make him or her more eager to dream about the wonderful story their parent told them about.

Melatonin is a natural substance that our bodies produce to help us sleep, but it can also be purchased from the store to act as a sleeping aid. Autistic children usually have lower than normal levels of Melatonin which may be the reason why many children on the Autistic Spectrum struggle with sleep. Generally, melatonin is consumed a half hour before bedtime but some people take it an hour or more before they plan on falling asleep. Melatonin is not expensive and can be easily purchased at a local pharmacy.


Sources and helpful links :

1) www.rainymood.com (This site works wonders for my boyfriend who has Asperger's. Its soothing sounds help him fall asleep to the sound of thunder and rain)

2) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/aspergers-syndrome/DS00551/DSECTION=alternative-medicine

3) http://www.aane.org/asperger_resources/articles/children_parenting/sleep_problems_asperger.html

4) http://www.aspergerresources.com/sensory_sensitivity.html

5) http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-MADS00968/Obstructive-sleep-apnea?q=sleep+apnea&qpvt=sleep+apea

6) http://www.pandora.com (Another good site to find soothing music or any kind of music, really)