Non‐pharmacological management of problematic sleeping in children with developmental disabilities

Abstract

Modifying sleep management strategies to meet the specific needs of children with developmental disabilities is encouraged, and studies that look beyond sleep quality or sleep quantity are required. It is also advocated that modifications to sleep hygiene, sleep regularity, and sleep ecology in a population with developmental disabilities are rigorously investigated. Finally, daytime somnolence should not be overlooked when aiming to optimize sleep in children with developmental disabilities across the ages and stages of their lives. There were several limitations in the research findings of problematic sleep in children with developmental disabilities. In general, the sleep problems and the developmental disabilities investigated were multicomponent in nature. It is likely that management approaches impacted those problems on multiple levels or through diverse 'therapeutic' pathways. There is a need for randomized controlled trials and more objective measures that quantify improved sleep or wake states.

Sleep disturbances in Rett syndrome: Impact and management including use of sleep hygiene practices

“…Consistent with our previous work in RTT (Wong et al, ; Young et al, ), sleep problems had or were currently occurring in nearly all our cohort and were persistent in the majority. These data highlight the chronicity of sleep dysfunction which increases family strain associated with daily care (Spruyt & Curfs, ). Night waking was most frequent and impacts on the child and family were rated as moderate or major by the majority.…”

Integrated analysis of human transcriptome data for Rett syndrome finds a network of involved genes

“…hand washing). Often, but not always, abnormal breathing patterns (Viemari et al, 2005), sleep disorders (Spruyt & Curfs, 2015), epilepsy, scoliosis, growth deficit, cardiac dysrhythmias (Hara et al, 2015), constipation and dystonia are observed (Liyanage & Rastegar, 2014). In later stages the motoric abilities typically decrease while cognitive and communication skills are stable and often even improving.…”

Behavioural interventions for sleep problems in people with an intellectual disability: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of single case and group studies

“…It should, however, be noted that only one of the two studies included children with ID (in the second study, children only had autism, not ID), suggesting that Meltzer & Mindell's () findings cannot be generalised to the population of individuals with ID. A recent review by Spruyt & Curfs () included, among others, three studies of people with ID. Although a variety of benefits were reported across studies, no breakdown was provided in relation to those with ID.…”