Sleep Disorder in Children Suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Hilly Area of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes neurodevelopmental problems throughout life that affect all areas of child development such as abnormal and impaired social interaction, problems in communication, restricted interest, repetitive and stereotypical behaviors. Sleep problems are most commonly complained by parents of children suffering from ASD. About 20-30% of children less than 5 years with normal development give complaints of sleep problems mainly of bedtime resistance, sleep onset delay and night awakening. Less commonly reported sleep disturbance by parents is nightmares or night terrors repetitive and stereotypical behavior. Less frequently reported complain is of breathing sleep disorder. It has already been proved by many studies that ASD children have more complaints about sleep problems than in normal children. But the data of children with ASD having sleep problems in the Indian population is less, so with our study we want to know the prevalence of ASD children with sleep problems in children of the hilly area of Uttarakhand. Objective: The study aims to know the different problems related to sleep faced by children suffering from ASD ( Age range from 4 to 10 years ) with autistic spectrum disorders using the Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire (Preschool and school-age, abbreviated version). Subjects and Method s: All patients of ASD presenting to the Psychiatry and Pediatric Outpatient department of Government Medical College and Susheela Tiwari trust Hospital, Haldwani, Uttarakhand from in February 2019 to January 2020. It’s a cross-sectional study of children with different problems related to sleep faced by children suffering from ASD ( Age range from 4 to 10 years ) with autistic spectrum disorders using the Children’s Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) (Preschool and school-age, abbreviated version). Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics: The sample consisted of 30 children of ASD with sleep problems ( Mean Age 8.06 years, SD 3.25, Male 21 and Female 9 Children) age range from 4 Years to 10 Years and is compare from 30 normal children (mean age 9.06 Years, SD 3.15, Male 21 and Female 9) for the control group. Both groups were analysed using CSHQ tools. There were no statistically significant differences in age and gender (P value more than 0.05). About 60% (n=18) of the children suffering from ASD had an intellectual disability and 40% (n=12) children with ASD had normal Intellectual. Comparison of Total CSHQ score, bedtime resistance and sleep anxiety showed a statistically significant difference in children suffering from ASD with sleep disorder when compared from normal children. Using CSHQ tools sleep onset delay, night waking, day time sleepiness, parasomnias and sleep –disorder breathing does not show any statistical difference between children with ASD and normal children used as Control. Conclusion: This study compared sleep problems between children with ASD and typically developing children (4-10 Years of age) and examined associated factors of sleep problems in ASD from a different point of view.