Click Free Pest Control Quote
to fill in a form to obtain a free pest control quote today.
IRCA Articles>Self Help/Medical
Contributed by Marci Wheeler
Most parents have had some experience with a child who has difficulty falling asleep, wakes up frequently during the night, and/or only sleeps a few hours each night. Temporary sleep difficulties are an expected phase of child development. Ongoing and persistent sleep disturbances can have an adverse effect on the child, parents and other household members. Children with autism spectrum disorders appear to experience these sleep disturbances more frequently and intensely than typically developing children. A childs sleeping problems can quickly become a daily parenting challenge.
There are a number of factors to address when establishing a plan to reinforce a positive sleep pattern. First, any underlying medical problems that may be affecting sleep should be assessed. Consider checking for food and/or environmental allergies or intolerances, gastrointestinal disturbances, and seizures. All of these are more common in persons with autism spectrum disorders. Also sleep disturbances can be a side effect of other medications an individual takes and so this should be considered, too.
Sleep disorders that affect the general population should also be ruled out for your child with an autism spectrum disorder. Sleep apnea is a disorder that can affect anyone at any age. It is a disorder in which a person experiences pauses in breathing when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep. The most common cause for blockage is enlarged tonsils or adenoids. Upper respiratory illnesses and/or allergies can also contribute to the development of sleep apnea. Beside pauses in breathing, symptoms of sleep apnea in children include: snoring, mouth breathing, restless sleep, sweating, night wakings, and/or frequent coughing or choking while asleep. Other sleep disorders to assess in a child, if appropriate, include sleep terrors and confusional arousals. These both are frequently referred to as parasomnias. Parasomnias are disorders of partial arousal that lead to unusual behaviors during sleep. Children with sensory processing difficulties have more problems falling asleep and night waking. An assessment and consultation with an occupational therapist trained in sensory integration may be important to assess relaxation and arousal difficulties, and to help design strategies that address these issues.
After possible medical problems have been addressed, other factors contributing to sleep problems should be considered and strategies for addressing these implemented. Other issues to consider are: environmental variables, bedtime routines and the use of a sleep training method. Each of these three topics is discussed in further detail below.
After examining your childs sleep environment more closely, there may be some adaptations and modifications needed to assist your childs ability to relax at bedtime.
Bedtime routines and rituals are very important for most children in establishing positive sleep patterns, but are extremely critical for children with an autism spectrum disorder.
After addressing medical issues, environmental variables and bedtime routines it is time to tackle the hardest piece in establishing positive sleep patterns: teaching your child to sleep through the night. There are various versions of sleep training methods you may have read or heard about. Basically after the bedtime routine is done and your child is in his bed or crib, leave the room without long drawn out words or further attempts at touching the child in any way.
If the child is upset and obviously not sleeping, wait a few minutes and then go back into the childs room to check on him/her. Checks involve going back into the childs room and briefly (not more than a minute, preferably less) touching, rubbing or maybe giving a high five, thumbs up or hug for an older child who better responds to these gestures. Gently but firmly say, its okay, its bedtime, you are okay or a similar phrase and then leave the room until it is time for the next check or until the child falls asleep.
Go here to see the original:
Good Night, Sleep Tight, and Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite:
- AAA Exterminating: Bedbugs die at 120F - August 25th, 2011 [August 17th, 2011]
- Bed Bugs Extreme Infestation - September 6th, 2011 [September 6th, 2011]
- WTIU Newsbreak, September 22, 2010 - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Bed Bugs Reported on IU Bloomington Campus - September 15th, 2011 [September 15th, 2011]
- Who's Sleeping in YOUR Bed? Mattress Superstore BedGuard - September 16th, 2011 [September 16th, 2011]
- smiley bedbug search - September 18th, 2011 [September 18th, 2011]
- Doug Summers Interview - September 18th, 2011 [September 18th, 2011]
- Stevens Pest Control - October 1st, 2011 [October 1st, 2011]
- WTIU Newsbreak, November 22, 2010 - October 4th, 2011 [October 4th, 2011]
- smiley bedbug hunt - October 5th, 2011 [October 5th, 2011]
- Assisted Living Facility Fighting Bed Bugs - Video - October 18th, 2011 [October 18th, 2011]
- B-Roll Footage: Rayovac Indestructible LED 3 C Cell Flashlight - Video - February 6th, 2012 [February 6th, 2012]
- Bed bugs found in Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis - February 13th, 2012 [February 13th, 2012]
- Bed bugs discovered at Riley Hospital at IU Health - February 13th, 2012 [February 13th, 2012]
- Bedbugs Found At Indianapolis Children's Hospital - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Bed Bugs Infest Indiana Children's Hospital! - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Cincinnati Sees Decline in Bed Bug Infestation - March 15th, 2012 [March 15th, 2012]
- Clark Arms residents dealing with bed bugs - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Cincinnati Still #2 In Nation For Bed Bugs - June 12th, 2012 [June 12th, 2012]
- ISDH: Bed Bugs - In - November 3rd, 2013 [November 3rd, 2013]
- Bed Bug Dog | Bed Bug Inspectors - Bed Bugs Chicago - November 3rd, 2013 [November 3rd, 2013]
- Power Over Pests, Bed Bugs & Termites | Terminix - November 3rd, 2013 [November 3rd, 2013]
- Bed Bugs - Termites - Gold Seal - November 3rd, 2013 [November 3rd, 2013]
- Bed Bug Plague - Bed Bugs Are Back - November 5th, 2013 [November 5th, 2013]
- Reports of Bed Bugs in Indianapolis Hotels - Indianapolis, Indiana ... - November 9th, 2013 [November 9th, 2013]
- Reports of Bed Bugs in Indianapolis Hotels - Indianapolis ... - November 18th, 2013 [November 18th, 2013]
- Indiana Apartment Association - Bed_Bugs - November 25th, 2013 [November 25th, 2013]
- Bed Bug Dogs In Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Louisville And IN ... - November 27th, 2013 [November 27th, 2013]
- Parents worry about bed bugs in Arlington High School - December 12th, 2013 [December 12th, 2013]
- Bed Bugs Found in Indiana Apartment Complex, My Cleaning Products Suggests a Pesticide-Exempt Bed Bug Spray to Help ... - December 19th, 2013 [December 19th, 2013]
- Battling bed bug epidemic - December 22nd, 2013 [December 22nd, 2013]
- Indiana Bed Bugs - A Division of Go Bug Free, Inc. - December 26th, 2013 [December 26th, 2013]
- Fort Wayne Pest Control | Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs - January 4th, 2014 [January 4th, 2014]
- Bed Bug Indiana | Alert Bed Bug Detection Agency | Bed Bugs Ohio - January 16th, 2014 [January 16th, 2014]
- Indianapolis Pest Control | Bed Bugs Indianapolis - January 20th, 2014 [January 20th, 2014]
- Indiana Bed Bugs - Antique Auto Repair Geneva IL 60134 ... - February 22nd, 2014 [February 22nd, 2014]
- Indiana Bed Bugs - Bettenhausen & Jarman, Ltd. - Real ... - March 18th, 2014 [March 18th, 2014]
- Avoid hitchhiking bed bugs during summer travels - July 4th, 2014 [July 4th, 2014]
- Bed Bug Treatments Indianapolis, IN | 317-520-9800 - July 7th, 2014 [July 7th, 2014]
- Monroe Countys bedbug problem is far from over, experts ... - November 18th, 2014 [November 18th, 2014]
- Hey, I'm in Indiana: Bed Bugs are on Satan's Team - November 20th, 2014 [November 20th, 2014]
- Does Purdue University Have Bed Bugs - November 22nd, 2014 [November 22nd, 2014]
- Indy holds tight on bed bugs list - January 24th, 2015 [January 24th, 2015]
- Bed bugs life cycle - March 7th, 2016 [March 7th, 2016]
- Bed bugs in Cincinnati (including regional area) - March 7th, 2016 [March 7th, 2016]
- Signs of Bed Bugs on Sheets | eHow - March 7th, 2016 [March 7th, 2016]
- Lafayette Bed Bug Control | Lafayette Exterminator | Indiana - March 16th, 2016 [March 16th, 2016]
- Inspecting Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs - Let's Beat the ... - April 3rd, 2016 [April 3rd, 2016]
- Bed Bugs Muncie Indiana - May 2nd, 2016 [May 2nd, 2016]
- Bed Bugs From a San Francisco Hotel - hotels.about.com - December 29th, 2016 [December 29th, 2016]
- How to Avoid Bed Bugs When Shopping for Clothing ... - February 3rd, 2017 [February 3rd, 2017]
- Indianapolis Pest Control Pros Identify Bed Bugs In ... - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Avoid the Biting Burden of Bed Bugs This Summer - PR Newswire (press release) - June 5th, 2017 [June 5th, 2017]
- Bed Bug Control - Indiana Pest Control - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Ticks and bedbugs worry health department - Batesville Herald Tribune - July 24th, 2017 [July 24th, 2017]
- Bed Bugs | Fort Wayne Allen County Department of Health - August 12th, 2017 [August 12th, 2017]
- Indiana, United States Bed Bug Registry Map Bed Bug ... - November 15th, 2017 [November 15th, 2017]
- Indiana Bed Bug Heat Treatment | Indianapolis, Carmel, Kokomo - December 28th, 2017 [December 28th, 2017]
- Bed Bugs | Allen County Department of Health - November 17th, 2018 [November 17th, 2018]
- Lawyer's bed bugs close Oklahoma courthouse - National ... - March 12th, 2019 [March 12th, 2019]
- Bed Bugs Pest Control in Central Indiana | Freedom Pest ... - May 3rd, 2019 [May 3rd, 2019]
- This City Has the Worst Bed Bug Infestation in America - Reader's Digest - January 30th, 2020 [January 30th, 2020]
- Indiana Bed Bug Hotel and Apartment Reports ... - February 23rd, 2020 [February 23rd, 2020]
- The 10 Best Bed Bug Exterminators in Indianapolis, IN 2020 - June 9th, 2020 [June 9th, 2020]
- Indianapolis, Indiana Bed Bug Reports - June 9th, 2020 [June 9th, 2020]
- Rentals, HUD, and Laws About Bed Bug Treatment - Yes Pest ... - August 3rd, 2020 [August 3rd, 2020]
- Bed bugs: A home remedy could deter the creepy crawlies from infesting your home - Express - October 21st, 2020 [October 21st, 2020]
- 2021 Top 50 Bed Bug Cities in U.S. | Terminix - December 9th, 2021 [December 9th, 2021]
Click Free Exterminator Quote
to fill in a form to obtain a free exterminator quote today.