Parent-Mediated Telehealth Sleep Therapy for Autistic Children
Official title: Parent-Mediated Teleheath Intervention for Insomnia in Young Autistic Children
Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11400968 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, multisite telehealth program helps families of autistic children improve nighttime sleep and reduce caregiver stress using parent-led behavioral strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $618,478 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114631-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400968 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with autism (young age range) who experience chronic insomnia and their families willing to participate in telehealth sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose insomnia is due to non-behavioral medical causes or whose families cannot engage in telehealth may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a multisite telehealth program that trains and guides parents of autistic children to implement proven bedtime routines and behaviors to reduce insomnia. Through remote sessions, families receive structured coaching, progress tracking, and support to manage sleep onset and night-time awakenings. The study builds on prior telehealth work and aims to enroll children with autism aged up to early childhood, measuring improvements in child sleep and daytime functioning as well as caregiver well-being. If successful, the approach could scale to more families, reducing disruption and improving overall family health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children may fall asleep more easily and stay asleep longer, with calmer days for families and school performance improvements.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small trials and a previous telehealth approach suggest potential benefit, but this large multisite study tests effectiveness at scale.
Where this research is happening
-
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Cynthia R — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Cynthia R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.