Getting a good night’s rest is vital for neurodiverse children – pediatric sleep experts explain why

A poor night’s sleep has consequences on behavior, academic performance and overall health. skynesher/E+ via Getty Images by Beth Ann Malow, Vanderbilt University; Susan Nehiley Brasher, Emory University, and Terry Katz, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Most of us are all too familiar with the consequences of a poor night’s sleep – be it interrupted sleep or simply too little of it. If you’re a parent with kids at home, it often leaves you and your children on edge. Children with neurodiverse conditions, such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are even more susceptible to the effects of poor sleep, given their emotional reactivity and impulsivity.. Struggles with sleep have been linked to increased aggression, irritability, inattention and hyperactivity in children with autism spectrum disorder. We are three sleep experts – a neurology physician with expertise in pediatrics, a psychologist and a pediatric nurse practitioner – who are working together to help neurodiverse kids, including those on the autism spectrum, get better sleep. Two of us wrote a 2014 book for parents on the topic. We are passionate about improving sleep because it’s an opportunity to help neurodiverse kids and their families both at night and throughout the...