How sleep problems affect children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Project 1: The impact of sleep dysregulations on Autism Spectrum Disorder

NIH-funded research Stanford University · NIH-10916326

This study is looking at how sleep problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder might make their communication and behavior challenges worse, and it will compare their sleep patterns to those of kids without autism to see how it all connects.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project IDNIH-10916326 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between sleep dysregulation and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children. It aims to understand how sleep disruptions, which affect up to 80% of children with ASD, may worsen core symptoms such as communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors. By using advanced sleep monitoring techniques in the children's home environments, the study will compare sleep patterns in children with ASD to those of typically developing peers. The research will also explore how these sleep issues relate to cognitive functions and daytime behavior.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 4 to 17 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Autism Spectrum Disorder or are outside the age range of 4 to 17 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved sleep interventions that may alleviate some core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in affected children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have indicated a link between sleep disturbances and ASD symptoms, but this research aims to provide more comprehensive data through a larger sample size and home-based assessments.

Where this research is happening

Stanford, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.