Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances are commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The strength of this association with comparison to matched general population published in the previous studies was inconclusive.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine sleep disturbances among ASD and ADHD children in comparison to their matched control of typically developed siblings.

Materials and Methods: Children, aged 3–17 years, attending Al-Wafa and Al-Rashad Centers, were recruited using convenience sampling. Each registered case with ASD diagnoses had a typically developed siblings matched for sex and age group of ± 5 years differences (75 cases and 75 siblings). ADHD group included children with similar age group, diagnosed as ADHD, who attended school health clinics (50 cases and 50 siblings); same inclusion criteria were applied to both ASD and ADHD cases. Sibling groups were brothers and sisters of ASD or ADHD cases matched for gender and age group of ± 5 years. The mothers were interviewed and completed a fact and data sheet prepared for the study. The data sheet included items from the sleep disorders scale for children (SDSC).

Results: There were no significant differences between children with ASD and their siblings. Children with ADHD had significant difference with siblings in sleep variables such as movement during sleep (P = 0.04), reading prior to sleep (P = 0.002), and the need to take medicine (P = 0.01). Children with ASD showed more disturbances in sleep variables compared to children with ADHD but did not reach significant level with the exception of suffocation during sleep which was more among children with ADHD.

Conclusion: The differences between the groups were unremarkable. Parental attitude and sleep hygiene practice were the major determinants of sleep problems which need further elucidation.

Key words: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Bahrain; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Sleep