Ask an Autism Researcher
Sometimes the harder you try to sleep, the more difficult it becomes…
Insomnia is one of the most common health complaints in Australia, affecting up to a third of the population. When sleep is poor we can feel tired and irritable, and as though everything requires more effort. When poor sleep persists it can increase negative feelings, affecting our mood and general health.
Ask an Autism Researcher
Many people with ASD report problems with sleep, but most ASD sleep research to date has focused on children and adolescents, with only a few studies involving adults with ASD. We also know very little about which aspects of sleep are problematic; is it difficulties with going to sleep (sleep onset latency), staying asleep (total sleep time), frequent waking during the night (wake after sleep onset), or less total sleep. There is also very little research into how daytime functioning is affected in adults with ASD who sleep poorly. One of our students, Emma Baker, has therefore decided to study sleep problems and how they are related to daytime functioning in adults with ASD. Emma is studying for her PhD under the supervision of Associate Professor Amanda Richdale who is one of the international experts on sleep problems associated with ASD.
Read more “An investigation into sleep difficulties in Adults with High-Functioning ASD”