Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
Official title: Project 1: The impact of sleep dysregulations on Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11408805 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,944 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD109861-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408805 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents ages 4–17 with a confirmed autism spectrum disorder and age- and sex-matched peers without ASD.
✕Less likely to help
Very young children under 4 or individuals without ASD who do not experience sleep disturbances may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project will compare sleep patterns and daytime brain activity between children with autism and typically developing children, using home sleep monitoring, in-lab sleep testing, and resting EEG. It will enroll about 150 ASD and 75 control participants aged 4–17 years to see how sleep quality and architecture relate to core autism symptoms and cognitive function. By studying sleep in a natural home setting and in conjunction with daytime measurements, the study aims to clarify whether sleep disruptions contribute to the severity of ASD symptoms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to targeted sleep interventions that may lessen ASD symptom severity and improve daytime functioning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests sleep patterns differ in ASD, but this study uses home sleep testing and a larger sample to clarify links to symptoms.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'hara, Ruth M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: O'hara, Ruth M
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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.