Function-Based Behavioral Interventions for Sleep Problems in Children and Adolescents with Autism: Summary of 41 Clinical Cases

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. 418 - 432
• Main Authors: McLay, Laurie, France, Karyn, Blampied, Neville, van Deurs, Jenna, Hunter, Jolene, Knight, Jacqui, Hastie, Brent, Carnett, Amarie, Woodford, Emma, Gibbs, Rosina, Lang, Russell
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2021; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - therapy; Autistic adolescents; Autistic children; Behavior; Behavior Modification; Behavior Therapy - methods; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Care and treatment; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child, Preschool; Children; Conditioning, Operant - physiology; Demographic aspects; Efficacy; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Functional Behavioral Assessment; Health aspects; Humans; Intervention; Male; Neurosciences; New Zealand - epidemiology; Original Paper; Parents - psychology; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physiological aspects; Polysomnography - methods; Program Effectiveness; Psychology; Public Health; Risk factors; Sleep; Sleep - physiology; Sleep disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology; Sleep Wake Disorders - therapy; Teaching; Teenagers; Video Recording - methods; Youth; New Zealand; Functional behavioral assessment; Sleep; Treatment; Autism spectrum disorder; Intervention barriers
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04548-7

This case analysis involved 41 clinical cases wherein children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) received a behavioral intervention for sleep problems. This study intended to (a) evaluate the efficacy of function-based behavioral sleep treatments; (b) elucidate variables impacting response to such interventions; (c) inform practitioners addressing sleep problems without a robust evidence-base; and (d) suggest priorities for future sleep research. Interventions included antecedent- and consequence-based modifications, and the teaching of replacement behaviors. Data were analysed using modified Brinley Plots and effect size estimates. Outcomes suggest that multi-component, parent-delivered, function-based interventions may ameliorate sleep problems in children and adolescents with ASD. The need for future research utilizing rigorous experimental designs is supported.