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Abstract
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Introduction:
Sensory processing and integration anomalies represent one of the core symptoms of autism.
Similarly, sleep problems are also more represented and significant in children with autism than in
general population. Moreover, both sensory and sleep profiles are very different from each other
within the same spectrum. Sensory anomalies may take the form of both hypo- and
hypersensitivities and include different sensory modalities, while sleep problems can vary from
difficulty falling asleep, frequent night-wakings, shorter sleep duration, restlessness during sleep,
etc. Both sensory and sleep problems have a significant impact on autism severity and the quality
of life of patients and families. Therefore, it is important to assess how different sleep problems
can have an impact on sensory disturbances, and so on the severity of core symptoms.
The purpose of our work is to evaluate the different sleep and sensory profiles in preschool
children with autism and to correlate sleep disturbances with their different sensory profiles to
understand how sleep affects them.
Methods:
The study has been conducted on a sample of 38 preschool children with a DSM-5 diagnosis of
autism afferent to the UOC of Neuropsychiatry of the Child (Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy).
We have collected data on sensory and sleep profiles from parent self-report, using respectively
the SPM-P (Sensory Processing Measure-Preschool) and the SDSC (Sleep Disturbance Scale For
Children), along with data on their cognitive and linguistic level using standardized measures.
Results:
From the analysis conducted on 38 preschool children (mean age: 40.69 months, SD: 9.036), above
average sleep problems were found in 30,5 % of patients and sensory issues in 38,9%. A
significance was found in the correlation between total sleep problems and total sensory issues T
scores (p=0.04) and between different sleep problems and vestibular disfunction (P=0.02).
Conclusions:
The detection of a worsening of the core symptoms in children with autism and concomitant sleep
problems has major implications for treatment. In fact, it is crucial to set a targeted intervention
also on sleep problems, because this could improve sensory symptoms, reduce the burden of the
disease for families and make the child more receptive to the rehabilitation.
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