Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) commonly experience problems with the processing of tactile stimuli and poor quality of sleep. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether tactile stimuli modulation (TSM) disorders might be linked to insomnia prevalence in ASD individuals. We hypothesized that sleep disorders in children with ASD may result from improper tactile under/over responsivity. The study included 27 children diagnosed with ASD, aged 6.8 (±2.9 years) with male dominance (n = 22, 81.5%). To evaluate the pattern of TSM we used a clinical interview with a parent, and guided and spontaneous observation of the patients. Sleep disorders were diagnosed using the Athens Insomnia Scale. Of all the children diagnosed with TSM, 20 patients (74.1%) had an over-responsivity pattern and 7 children (25.9%) had an under-responsivity pattern. Of the patients, 11 children (40.7%) met the diagnostic criteria for insomnia. The data indicated a statistical tendency for higher prevalence of insomnia in individuals diagnosed with tactile under-responsivity (p = 0.051). We concluded that under-responsivity toward tactile stimuli may be partly responsible for poor sleep quality in ASD. There is an urgent need to treat sleep and sensory disruptions which may intensify behavioral difficulties in ASD.
Highlights
Therapeutic touch in infants makes them more alert and active during the day, improves quality of sleep with fewer awakenings during the night, and hastens the time to fall asleep [29]. In light of these facts, the aim of the present study was to analyze whether tactile stimuli modulation (TSM) disorders might be linked to insomnia prevalence in Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
Using a generalized linear mixed effects model with age and gender as covariables, we modelled the probability of insomnia by TSM disorder
The present study examined whether TSM disorders might be linked to insomnia The present examined whether TSMthat disorders might beinlinked to with insomnia prevalence in ASDstudy individuals
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) manifest at an early stage of development, predominantly in males and are comprised of deficits in social interaction, restricted communication skills, and repetitive movements or actions [1,2,3]. The diverse nature of individuals with ASD makes treatment difficult [2]. 85% of individuals with ASD may be diagnosed with a comorbid disorder, which adds to the complex clinical picture [4]
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