Sleeping sound with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Study protocol for an efficacy randomised controlled trial of a tailored brief behavioural sleep intervention for ASD

Abstract

Introduction Sleep problems are a characteristic feature of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with 40% to 80% of children experiencing sleep difficulties. Sleep problems have been found to have a pervasive impact on a child's socio-emotional functioning, as well as on parents' psychological functioning. The Sleeping Sound ASD project aims to evaluate the efficacy of a brief behavioural sleep intervention in reducing ASD children's sleep problems in a fully powered randomised controlled trial (RCT). Intervention impact on child and family functioning is also assessed. Methods and analysis The RCT aims to recruit 234 children with a diagnosis of ASD, aged 5-13 years, who experience ..