Is the quality of sleep in babies a risk factor for autism?

A study which surveyed over 1000 mother-infant pairs in Australia suggests that less or poor quality sleep in babies could be a risk of autism. 

The findings of the study, which is published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, suggest that an increase in night-time sleep by an hour by six months of age was related to fewer autism characteristics at ages two and four.

What is autism?

Autism – also referred to as autism spectrum disorder ̶ constitutes a diverse group of conditions related to the development of the brain. According to a 2023 WHO report, about 1 in 100 children has autism.

The researchers surveyed parents about their baby's sleep patterns at ages six and 12 months. The parents then reported if they noticed autism-like characteristics when the child turned two and four years old.

It was found that every increase of five minutes in sleep latency was linked with more autism characteristics and a further 7.7 per cent higher chance of being diagnosed with the neurodevelopmental disorder. 

"Collectively, (the study) suggests that infant sleep characteristics have the potential to serve as one indicator for identifying infants who could benefit from autism monitoring, thereby facilitating early diagnosis. It may also inform future supportive evidence-based interventions for autistic children," the researchers mentioned in the study.  

Are there any treatment options?

As autism is not a disease, providers do not 'treat' it. However, the following therapies can help in the management of the condition. 

- Behavioral therapies, like applied behavior analysis (ABA)

-Family therapy

-Speech therapy

-Occupational therapy

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