autism

As the parent of an autistic child, I’m sure you’re aware of the unique challenges that come with nurturing and supporting your child's development. You work hard to give them the best care, guidance, and opportunities to thrive. But have you thought about sleep?  Sleep issues can have a significant impact on your child's overall well-being, their ability to learn, and the quality of life for your whole family. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a decade of experience treating sleep problems in autistic individuals, I want to help you understand why children on the autism spectrum frequently struggle with sleep and what you can do to help. Autism and Sleep Problems Sleep is a vital part of overall health and well-being for people of all ages. However, for children with autism, good sleep can be hard to come by. Research suggests that as many as 80% of children with autism experience sleep problems at some point. So, if your child is struggling with sleep you certainly aren’t alone! These sleep problems can include difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, irregular sleep patterns, unhealthy sleep dependencies, bed wetting, and getting too much or too little sleep. Children with autism often [...]