Autism and sleep disorders: solutions to promote restful sleep

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction and behavior. People with autism can experience difficulties in many aspects of their daily lives, including sleep. Sleep disorders are common in children with autism, which can have a negative impact on their overall well-being. However, there are solutions to promote restful sleep in autistic children. In this article, we’ll explore the sleep disorders associated with autism and offer practical advice to help autistic children sleep better.

Sleep disorders in autistic children

Children with autism are more likely to have sleep problems than their neurotypical peers. These sleep disorders can manifest themselves in various forms, including :

Insomnia: autistic children may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
Nightmares: some autistic children have frequent nightmares that disrupt their sleep.
Sleep-disordered breathing: sleep apnea and other breathing disorders can affect sleep quality in autistic children.
Circadian rhythm disorders: children with autism may have difficulty regulating their internal biological clock, which can lead to sleep disorders.

Tips to promote restful sleep

There are several strategies and tips that can help autistic children sleep better. Here are a few recommendations to keep in mind:

1. Establish a regular sleep routine

A regular sleep routine can help autistic children prepare mentally and physically for rest. Try to establish consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, ensuring that the environment is conducive to relaxation.

2. Create an environment conducive to sleep

Make sure your child’s room is quiet, dark and comfortable. Avoid excessive visual and sound stimuli that could disrupt sleep. Use blackout curtains, soft nightlights and comforting objects such as stuffed animals to create a soothing environment.

3. Promote relaxation before bedtime

Relaxing activities before bedtime can help prepare autistic children for sleep. This can include activities such as reading quiet books, listening to soft music or practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing.

4. Limit screen stimulation before bedtime

Screens emit blue light that can disrupt sleep. We therefore recommend limiting the use of screens, such as televisions, smartphones and tablets, before bedtime. Try to create a screen-free routine before bedtime to promote relaxation and prepare the brain for sleep.

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5. Promote regular physical activity

Physical activity can help regulate sleep. Encourage your autistic child to take part in physical activities during the day, preferably outdoors. This can help release accumulated energy and promote deeper, more restful sleep.

6. Consider medical interventions

In some cases, medical interventions may be necessary to treat sleep disorders in autistic children. Consult a healthcare professional specializing in autism to discuss the options available, such as behavioral therapy or medication.

Sleep disorders are common in autistic children, but there are solutions to promote restful sleep. By establishing a regular sleep routine, creating a sleep-friendly environment, encouraging relaxation before bedtime, limiting screen stimulation, promoting regular physical activity and considering medical interventions if necessary, parents can help their autistic children enjoy better quality sleep. It’s important to consult a healthcare professional specializing in autism for personalized advice tailored to each child.

COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES, educational and sports games

Today, COCO is an application used by autistic children either at home or with a healthcare professional, who may be a speech therapist, occupational therapist, psychologist or psychomotor therapist. All professionals wishing to subscribe to Coco can benefit from a web-based performance tracking platform. It is therefore possible to see the evolution and improvement of people with autism, and thus personalize their care.

Coco goes everywhere with you, because the application doesn’t need Wi-Fi to work, only for updates.

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SPORTS BREAKS BENEFIT AUTISTIC CHILDREN

In COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES, you’ll also find physical activities. Every 15 minutes of screen time, the application stops and offers children physical games.

This sports break has many advantages for children, especially those with autism.

Screen use is very useful and loved by children, but prolonged use can become negative. With Coco, children can take a dynamic break, learning to let go of the tablet and engage in physical activity while having fun at the same time.

All our physical activities are designed with children in mind. With balance and dance games, children learn to know their bodies and adapt to their environment. For children with autism, this can be very useful for augmenting known motor patterns and for gaining a better sense of self (especially when there is hypo or hypersensitivity).

In Coco, there’s also the “mime an emotion” game, where the child has to reproduce the emotion shown on screen by Coco. Children can first learn to name emotions, to recognize them in themselves and then in others. What’s more, there’s an audio description in the game that explains the emotion and what you feel in your body.

In our educational application COCO, you can also learn to recognize your emotions with the game “Mime emotions”, in the COCO MOVES section. By clicking on the question mark, you will be able to learn the different emotions in order to better recognize them.

This game to mime emotions is also accessible as a break, every 15 minutes of screen. Every 15 minutes, children are asked to choose a physical activity for an active break. And you can also mime the emotions at that time!

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In our educational application COCO, you can also learn to recognize your emotions with the game “Mime emotions”, in the COCO MOVES section. By clicking on the question mark, you will be able to learn the different emotions in order to better recognize them.

This game to mime emotions is also accessible as a break, every 15 minutes of screen. Every 15 minutes, children are asked to choose a physical activity for an active break. And you can also mime the emotions at that time!