Asperger's Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asperger's Syndrome, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, medication.

Sleep Patterns in School-age Children with Asperger Syndrome or High-functioning Autism: A Follow-up Study.

Allik H, Larsson JO, Smedje H

Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Q3:O4, Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden, hiie.allik@ki.se.

The course of sleep patterns over 2-3 years was compared between 16 school-age children with Asperger syndrome (AS) or high-functioning autism (HFA) and 16 age- and gender-matched typically developing children, using 1-week actigraphy at baseline and follow-up. At baseline (mean age 11.1 years), children with AS/HFA had longer sleep latency and lower sleep efficiency during school days, but earlier sleep start and sleep end during weekends. At follow-up (mean age 13.7 years), children with AS/HFA had longer night wakings and lower sleep efficiency during weekends than the controls. The overall change of sleep patterns, however, is similar in children with AS/HFA and typically developing controls over a 2 to 3-year period.

Published 22 February 2008 in J Autism Dev Disord.
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