Sleep and Autism: Current Research, Clinical Assessment, and Treatment Strategies.

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with a high rate of sleep problems, affecting over 80% of autistic individuals. Sleep problems have pervasive negative effects on health, behavior, mood, and cognition but are underrecognized in autistic children. Problems initiating and maintaining sleep-hallmarks of insomnia-are common. Sleep-disordered breathing and restless legs syndrome have also been described in autism at a higher prevalence than in community populations. The authors describe current research on sleep in autistic children and potential pathophysiologic mechanisms. They describe practical approaches to sleep assessment and synthesize approaches to addressing sleep problems in autistic children.

Neurocognitive monitoring in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome with the NIH Toolbox®.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare neurocristopathy, caused by mutations in the paired-like homeobox gene PHOX2B, which alters control of breathing and autonomic nervous system regulation, necessitating artificial ventilation as life-support. A broad range of neurocognitive performance has been reported in CCHS, including an array of cognitive deficits. We administered the NIH Toolbox® Cognition Battery (NTCB), a novel technology comprised of seven tasks presented via an interactive computer tablet application, to a CCHS cohort and studied its convergent and divergent validity relative to traditional clinical neurocognitive measures. The NTCB was administered to 51 CCHS participants, including a subcohort of 24 who also received traditional clinical neurocognitive testing (Wechsler Intelligence Scales). Age-corrected NTCB scores from the overall sample and subcohort were compared to population norms. Associations between NTCB indices and Wechsler Intelligence scores were studied to determine the convergent and divergent validity of the NTCB. NTCB test results indicated reduced Fluid Cognition, which measures new learning and speeded information processing (p < 0.001), but intact Crystallized Cognition, which measures past learning, in CCHS relative to population norms. Moderate to strong associations (r > 0.60) were found between age-corrected NTCB Fluid and Crystallized indices and comparable Wechsler indices, supporting the convergent and discriminant validity of the NTCB. Results reveal deficits of Fluid Cognition in individuals with CCHS and indicate that the NTCB is a valid and sensitive measure of cognitive outcomes in this population. Our findings suggest that the NTCB may play a useful role in tracking neurocognition in CCHS.

The Link between Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a form of sleep-disordered breathing that affects up to 9.5% of the pediatric population. Untreated OSA is associated with several complications, including neurobehavioral sequelae, growth and developmental delay, cardiovascular dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is among the neurobehavioral sequelae associated with OSA. This review aims to summarize the research on the relationship between OSA and ADHD and investigate the impacts of OSA treatment on ADHD symptoms. A literature search was conducted on electronic databases with the key terms: "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" or "ADHD", "obstructive sleep apnea" or "OSA", "sleep disordered breathing", and "pediatric" or "children". Review of relevant studies showed adenotonsillectomy to be effective in the short-term treatment of ADHD symptoms. The success of other treatment options, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), in treating ADHD symptoms in pediatric OSA patients has not been adequately evaluated. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term benefits of surgical intervention, patient factors that may influence treatment success, and the potential benefits of other OSA treatment methods for pediatric ADHD patients.

Risk Factors and Inadequacy of Screening for Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Children with Marfan Syndrome.

The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increased in children and adults with Marfan syndrome (MFS) compared to the general population and has been shown to be associated with rapid aortic root dilation and dissection in adults. Early diagnosis and treatment of OSA may decrease long-term cardiac morbidity. We therefore studied the utility of noninvasive OSA screening tools in children with MFS. We hypothesized that youth with MFS would have higher OSA screening scores than the general pediatric population. Subjects with confirmed MFS were recruited from a single pediatric center. Data collected included cardiac history, retrospective polysomnogram (PSG) data, and prospectively collected Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (SRBD-PSQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS-CHAD) scores. Fifty-one individuals aged 2-21 years old were identified. Nineteen subjects completed the surveys, 53% female, median age 16 years. Of those that completed the survey, mean SRBD-PSQ score was 0.24 ± 0.21 and mean ESS-CHAD was 6.4 ± 3.7. Comparatively, published normative data for pediatric control subjects were 0.24 ± 0.21 for SRBD-PSQ and 5.4 ± 3.7 for ESS-CHAD. In conclusions, youth with MFS had similar OSA screening scores compared to published pediatric controls. Given these findings and high prevalence of OSA in MFS youth, standard questionnaires may not be an appropriate tool for identifying children at risk for OSA in this population. In the absence of evidence-based guidelines, physicians caring for children with MFS should consider referral for PSG, even in the absence of classic symptoms.

Comorbidities in children with elevated periodic limb movement index during sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Little is known about comorbidities in children who have elevated periodic limb movement index (PLMI) during overnight polysomnogram (PSG). The aim of this study is to identify comorbidities in children with elevated PLMI (PLMI > 5) versus children with PLMI < 5 presenting to a pediatric sleep center. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of all clinically indicated PSGs obtained consecutively from 3/2017-3/2019 at Seattle Children's Sleep Disorders Center. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, medications, medical history, family history specifically for restless legs syndrome (RLS), ferritin levels, and PSG metrics. Characteristics between those with (cases) elevated PLMI (AASM criteria) and without (controls) were summarized. RESULTS: We identified 148 subjects with elevated PLMI (67% male, mean age 7.95 years, range 1-20), yielding a PLMI > 5 prevalence of 5%. There were 188 controls included (58% male, mean age 8.0 years, range 1-19). Neither sex (chi-square = 2.8, NS) nor age (Mann-Whitney U = 1339.5, NS) differed between groups. Case subjects had a higher prevalence of RLS, snoring, insomnia, mood disorders, behavioral problems, morning headaches, chronic kidney disease, epilepsy, and chronic heart disease. Similarly, the use of antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiseizure medication, and other medications was statistically more frequent in children with elevated PLMS. The prevalence of PLMI > 5 was 5% and the prevalence of periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) was 0.3% in children referred to polysomnography. Ferritin levels did not differ. CONCLUSIONS: We identified the prevalence of PLMD in a sleep medicine-referred population. We have also identified comorbidities and medications associated with elevated PLMI in children.No clinical trial.

Understanding and managing sleep disruption in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Accumulating evidence has revealed high rates of sleep disruption among children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Multiple animal and clinical studies have found a clear association between sleep problems and prenatal alcohol exposure, and recent research is beginning to characterize the types and extent of sleep disruption in FASD. Nevertheless, sleep disruption in children with FASD often goes unrecognized or is treated without referring to an evidence base. Children's disrupted sleep interferes with parental sleep and increases caregiver burden, which is of particular importance for families raising children with FASD, a group with very high levels of caregiving stress. The literature supporting an association between sleep problems and deficits in emotional, behavioral, and cognitive function in children is compelling, but needs further investigation in children with FASD. This paper will review the current state of knowledge on sleep in FASD and recommend a rational approach to sleep interventions for affected children and their families.

Sleep Disturbances and Neurobehavioral Performance in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent of polysomnographic (PSG) sleep disturbances [obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI), number of wake bouts, arousals, periodic limb movements] and the effect of OAHI on neurobehavioral performance in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), JIA without OSA, and controls without OSA, adjusting for intelligence quotient (IQ), pain, medications, daytime sleepiness, and wake bouts. METHODS: Children 6-11 years, 68 with JIA and 67 controls, underwent 1 night of PSG and completed self-reported daytime sleepiness surveys, multiple sleep latency tests for physiological sleepiness, and neurobehavioral performance tests the next day. RESULTS: Compared with JIA and controls without OSA, mean OAHI and arousals were significantly higher in JIA with OSA (p < 0.001, respectively). In comparison with JIA and controls without OSA, mean simple reaction time and sustained attention were significantly slower in JIA with OSA, adjusting for IQ, pain, any medication, daytime sleepiness, and wake bouts. CONCLUSION: Elevated OAHI is suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea and a comorbidity in JIA that may predispose children with JIA to daytime sleepiness and impaired neurobehavioral performance.

Congruence between polysomnography obstructive sleep apnea and the pediatric sleep questionnaire: fatigue and health-related quality of life in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

PURPOSE: To examine the congruence between polysomnography obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI) and parent-reported obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms in 6- to 11-year-old children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and controls; and to compare fatigue and quality of life in JIA and control children based on OAHI and OSA symptoms. METHODS: Sixty-eight children with JIA and 75 controls and a parent participated. Children underwent one night of polysomnography in a sleep laboratory. Parents completed the sleep-related breathing disorders scale-pediatric sleep questionnaire (PSQ), and both children and parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Core Scale and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. RESULTS: In JIA, 86% who met the OAHI clinical criteria for OSA (≥1.5) were above the PSQ OSA symptom cut-off score with a sensitivity of 0.86 and a specificity of 0.28. In the control group, 63% who met the OAHI clinical criteria for OSA were above the PSQ OSA symptom cut-off score, with a sensitivity of 0.63 and a specificity of 0.42. All children above both the clinical criteria for OAHI and OSA symptom cut-off score had the most impaired quality of life and greater fatigue compared to those below both the clinical criteria for OAHI and the OSA symptom cut-off score. CONCLUSION: Children who meet clinical criteria for OSA and also scored high on a parent-reported screening tool for OSA symptoms had the most impaired quality of life and more fatigue. The PSQ has potential to identify children at risk for OSA.

Daily Sleep Patterns, Sleep Quality, and Sleep Hygiene Among Parent-Child Dyads of Young Children Newly Diagnosed With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Typically Developing Children.

OBJECTIVES: Describe daily sleep patterns, sleep quality, and sleep hygiene in 2-5-year-old children newly diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and their parents in comparison with typically developing (TD) children and parents. METHODS: Participants (13 JIA, 16 TD parent-child dyads) wore actigraphs for 10 days. Parents completed sleep diaries and sleep hygiene survey. RESULTS: Children with JIA had significantly less total sleep time, lower sleep efficiency (SE), and longer naps than TD children. Parents of children with JIA had significantly earlier bedtimes, more wake after sleep onset (WASO) and lower SE than TD parents. Parent-child SE and WASO were interrelated in JIA dyads. Sleep hygiene practices were inconsistent in both groups of children. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate amounts of sleep and poor sleep quality were common in parent-child dyads. Early interventions to improve sleep duration and promote sleep hygiene practices may alleviate future sleep problems and improve parent and child well-being.

Posterior fossa tumors and their impact on sleep and ventilatory control: a clinical perspective.

The cerebellum, classically viewed as a motor structure of the brain, may play a role in respiration. Brainstem dysfunction has been implicated in sleep disordered breathing (SDB), but apnea after surgery of brain tumors in the posterior fossa, not involving the brainstem has been reported. We report four cases with posterior fossa tumors without brainstem invasion who suffered SDB after surgery diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG). Advanced MRI techniques with DTI were used to find correlations with SDB. Abnormal signals in the superior, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles were seen in these patients with the most severe changes in the inferior peduncle. SDB may be under diagnosed in the setting of posterior fossa tumors without brainstem involvement. Damage to the cerebellar peduncles, especially the inferior cerebellar peduncle, without brainstem involvement, can cause significant disruption of respiration.

Sleep problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are reportedly common but not well characterized. Objectives were to: (1) assess sleep concerns in children with FASD using a caregiver-report survey, the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ); (2) compare CSHQ results with those of previously reported community sample; and (3) describe pilot polysomnography findings in children with FASD. METHODS: Children with FASD were recruited from a behavioral intervention study, and participating caregivers completed the CSHQ. CSHQ results were compared with the original data from a previously published community sample of similar age. Participants with FASD and elevated CSHQ scores were offered overnight polysomnography. RESULTS: Thirty-three children with FASD (4.1-12.1 years) were enrolled; 85% of children with FASD scored above the clinical cutoff Total Score of 41, reflecting marked sleep disturbance. Elevated subdomain scores occurred primarily in areas concerning for pediatric insomnia. Those with comorbid ADHD had elevated CSHQ on additional subdomains with no difference in Total Scores. Compared with the community sample, children with FASD had higher Total Scores on the CSHQ (52 vs. 39, p < 0.001). Polysomnography, completed in 5 subjects, revealed mild sleep disordered breathing and fragmented sleep with elevated non-respiratory arousal indices. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically significant sleep problems are present in children with FASD on both subjective and objective measures. Further investigation is needed to better describe these sleep disturbances and their impact on overall health and daytime neurobehavioral problems in this clinical population.

Supine sleeping position does not cause clinical aspiration in neonates in hospital newborn nurseries.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency and severity of clinically significant events of spitting up in normal newborns during the first 24 hours of life and to correlate the events with sleeping position. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Children born between August 2003 and October 2004 in newborn nurseries at 2 hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy full-term newborns (n=3240) (>or=37 weeks estimated gestational age) during the first 24 hours of life. OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of, and intervention required for, spitting up in supine, side-lying, and prone positions while asleep and awake. RESULTS: Of the 3240 infants, 96.6% did not spit up during sleep. A total of 142 episodes of spitting up were documented in 111 newborns during sleep. While the newborns were supine and asleep, there were 130 episodes of spitting up. Of these episodes, 55% did not require any intervention, 37% only required brief suctioning with a bulb syringe, 6% required gentle stimulation, and 2% required wall suction. Both nurseries had a policy that newborns should sleep supine; therefore, only 6 newborns were noted to have spitting up episodes while lying on the side, with 66.7% requiring no intervention and 33.3% requiring bulb syringe. No episodes of apnea, cyanosis, documented aspirations, neonatal intensive care unit admissions, or deaths from spitting up were noted. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that clinically significant spitting up occurs infrequently in hospital newborn nurseries while the newborns are asleep. Fewer than 4% of newborns spit up while sleeping in the supine position in the first 24 hours of life, and none required significant intervention or experienced serious sequelae.

Alcohol use in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder where there is failure of automatic control of breathing. With improved recognition of CCHS, more children are appropriately diagnosed and treated in infancy, allowing survival into adult years. Because most of these children are able to participate in regular school, they are exposed to common adolescent behaviors, such as abusing alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and many illicit substances are known respiratory depressants. We report on 3 cases of adolescents/young adults with CCHS who had severe adverse events related to alcohol, including coma and death. This series illustrates the dangers of alcohol abuse in CCHS. We speculate that adolescents with CCHS may be less able to perceive the risks of substance abuse and impulsive behavior, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Patients with CCHS appear to lack anxiety and the awareness that their inability to perceive physiologically dangerous levels of hypercarbia and hypoxia deprives them of important protective mechanisms.

Diaphragm pacers as a treatment for congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome is a rare syndrome present from birth, and is defined as the failure of automatic control of breathing. All patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome require life-long ventilatory support during sleep, although approximately a third of patients require ventilatory support 24 h per day. Diaphragm pacers offer a modality of ventilatory support that affords congenital central hypoventilation syndrome patients with maximal mobility for full-time ventilatory patients, and they may allow for a more normal lifestyle in the appropriate patient. They may permit tracheostomy decannulation in those requiring only support during sleep. Diaphragm pacing entails surgical placement of an electrode onto the phrenic nerve, connected to a subcutaneous receiver. There is an external battery-operated transmitter and antenna placed on the skin over the receiver. The transmitter emits energy, similar to radio transmission, which is converted into an electrical current by the receiver. This stimulates the phrenic nerve resulting in a diaphragmatic contraction. Settings on the transmitter include respiratory rate and electrical voltage, and are adjusted to give enough tidal volume to allow for adequate oxygenation and ventilation. Therefore, diaphragm pacing is an attractive alternative mode of mechanically assisted ventilation for many patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Disordered respiratory control in children with partial cerebellar resections.

While the cerebellum is not traditionally thought of as having an important role in respiratory control, breathing involves cyclic motor acts that require cerebellar coordination. We postulate that children with partial cerebellar resections have disordered respiratory control due to altered synchronization of ventilatory muscles. We reviewed the records of 36 children following partial cerebellar resections due to neoplasms confined to the cerebellum. P aCO2 values were elevated in 19% of patients. Six patients had apneic or bradypneic events documented within the first month after resection. Two patients required intubation with assisted ventilation, and one needed assisted ventilation for 7.3 weeks. Those with apnea had lower oxygen saturations, and a longer need for supplemental oxygen. Patients with apnea were older than those without apnea. Swallowing, which uses many of the same muscles as those needed to maintain upper airway patency, was dysfunctional in 50% of those with apneas. We conclude that children with cerebellar resections have an increased incidence of apnea, hypoventilation, and hypoxemia not otherwise explained by pulmonary disease, and some require prolonged assisted ventilation. We speculate that these abnormalities are manifestations of altered respiratory control caused by dysfunctional cerebellar coordination of ventilatory muscles.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: not just another rare disorder.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare syndrome, present from birth, and is defined as the failure of automatic control of breathing. Patients have absent or negligible ventilatory sensitivity to hypercapnia and hypoxaemia during sleep and wakefulness. Therefore, especially while asleep, children with CCHS experience progressive hypercapnia and hypoxaemia. They lack arousal responses and sensations of dyspnoea to the endogenous challenges of isolated hypercapnia and hypoxaemia and to the combined stimulus of hypercapnia and hypoxaemia. Patients with CCHS do not exhibit signs of respiratory distress when challenged with hypercarbia or hypoxia. The diagnosis is one of exclusion, ruling out any primary pulmonary, cardiac, metabolic or neurologic cause for central hypoventilation. CCHS is associated with other manifestations of autonomic nervous system dysfunction, including Hirschsprung's disease. All patients with CCHS require lifelong ventilatory support during sleep but some will be able to maintain adequate ventilation without assistance while awake once past infancy. However, some CCHS patients require ventilatory support for 24h/day. Modalities of home mechanical-assisted ventilation include positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (bi-level ventilation), negative pressure ventilation and diaphragmatic pacers. Supplemental oxygen alone is inadequate treatment. With early diagnosis and adequate ventilatory support, these children can have good outcomes and lead productive lives.