Mapping the impact of sleep interventions on children with ASD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mapping the impact of counselling and pharmacological sleep interventions on children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their parents/caregivers.
IRAS ID
340181
Contact name
Teresa Tavassoli
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Sleep difficulties are some of the commonest challenges that autistic children and their caregivers face; affecting up to 80% of autistic children. Sleep difficulties have a long-ranging negative impact on quality of life. Current clinical practice at Dingley Children's Centre uses a first and second-line treatment approach. Firstly, a sleep hygiene training course is recommended for caregivers. If unsuccessful, a pharmacological intervention, Melatonin, is prescribed.
To date, despite the prevalence of these interventions, there has been no systematic examination that incorporates objective data from wearable devices alongside parental reports and tests how these interventions influence distinct autistic traits to understand (a) which individuals benefit most and the mechanisms underlying these benefits, and (b) their broader impact on sleep quality, sensory reactivity, and caregiver mental well-being. This project will measure the impact of these interventions on sleep quality in children and caregivers, using questionnaire measures as well as wearable devices that measure physiological parameters related to sleep quality (wearable actigraphy devices). Additionally, it will measure the mental well-being of parents as well as sensory reactivity differences in children, as these are related to sleep difficulties. This data can help inform clinicians and parents about the impact of each intervention and what other factors may need to be considered when tackling sleep issues. Importantly, this data will contribute to the evidence base to help stratify patients into the correct treatment intervention.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0021
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion