Table 3.

Sleep Disturbance in ASD

Prevalence	Sleep problems are common in ASD (reported in 40–86%)
Features	Subjective and objective data indicate that children with ASD have difficulty falling asleep and sustaining sleep at night which may be best described as insomnia.
Evaluation	Parental questionnaires are available to assess sleep problems and bedtime habits. More objective data can be gathered from actigraphy and polysomnography.
Treatment issues	Behavioral and medication interventions are available but only supplemental melatonin has been well studied in this population.
Other considerations	Co-morbid diagnosis and medications need to be assessed for potential causes of sleep disruption.