Locations:
Search IconSearch
October 14, 2020/Neurosciences

Treating Sleep Disturbances in Young Children With Autism

Parent training intervention leads to significant improvement in sleep problems

Sleeping child

Up to 80% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have at least moderate sleep disturbances. Disordered sleep in children with autism can amplify already delayed social interactions, repetitive behaviors, affective problems, inattention/hyperactivity and irritability.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

In a prior NIH-funded study (R34MH082882), the principal investigator, Cynthia R. Johnson, PhD, Director of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Center for Autism, showed that a five-session, individually delivered parent training intervention for young children with ASD and sleep disturbances resulted in significant improvements in sleep problems compared with the control group, which received five sessions of an education program relevant to young children with ASD.1

This study was delivered in a tertiary, specialized setting requiring parents to make many trips to an urban area; some families traveled over two hours to participate. Now, with funding from the Department of Defense, Dr. Johnson and her team will further test this manualized parent training program specifically targeting bedtime and sleep disturbance but delivered via a telehealth platform. This four-year randomized control trial is actively recruiting (email autismresearch@ccf.org for more information). If we demonstrate that this manualized parent training program specifically targeting sleep disturbances can be delivered with fidelity and efficacy via a telehealth platform, this has broad implications for clinical service delivery to reach children and families living at a distance from a specialized autism center.

References

  1. Johnson CR, Turner KS, Foldes E, et al. Behavioral parent training to address sleep disturbances in young children with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot trial. Sleep Med. 2013 Oct; 14(10):995-1004.

Advertisement

Related Articles

two brain MRIs side by side
Brain Volume Changes and Disability in MOGAD: Defining Differences From Other Demyelinating Diseases

Despite less overall volume loss than in MS and NMOSD, volumetric changes correlate with functional decline

Dr. Ashutosh Mahapatra against a decorative background with podcast button overlay
September 16, 2025/Neurosciences/Podcast
Interventional Neurology’s Evolution and Emerging Capabilities (Podcast)

A passionate specialist surveys the field’s past, present and future

health provider presenting to patients in front of an easel
September 15, 2025/Neurosciences/Spine Care
Interdisciplinary Pain Programs Steer Low Back Pain Patients Toward Higher-Value Care

Program participation correlates with reduced use of opioids, X-rays and ED visits

two brain MRIs with red arrows indicating spots of interest
Paramagnetic Rim Lesions Are Highly Accurate for MS Diagnosis at First Presentation

This MRI marker of inflammation can help differentiate MS from mimics early in the disease

representation of pose sequences extracted from videos
Synthetic AI-Trained Gait Models Promise Improved Diagnosis of Neurological Conditions

Novel approach dramatically reduces the need for real-world data in diverse clinical populations

Dr. Alexandra Bonner against a decorative background with podcast overlay
September 2, 2025/Neurosciences/Podcast
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Progress Update (Podcast)

Overview of advances in screening, gene therapy and collaborative management

older man doing arm rehabilitation therapy with a healthcare provider
Vagal Nerve Stimulation: A New Option for Amplifying Functional Recovery Years After Stroke

Case illustrates essentials of the low-risk, high-potential procedure when paired with rehab

Child reaching toward a hot stove
August 22, 2025/Neurosciences/Research
Finding the What, Where and When of Pain Prediction Errors

Researchers identify the neurologic evolution of pain-related learning

Ad