Sleep and Health Journal

By Michael Chez, MD

Sleep disturbances in autism appear to be a common complaint when we ask parents or doctors who work with autistic patients.. Very few formal studies have been done in this field. However, from my own practice over the past sixteen years at least fifty percent of patients with autism have some type of sleep disturbances. These sleep problems include difficulties to fall asleep or resistance to go to bed, or disruptions of sleep. The mid-sleep disruptions are of most concern because they are often indications for possible nocturnal epilepsy.