Autism linked with poor sleep in children
By: Chioma Umeha Children with autism may sleep less each night due to disturbed sleep than those without the condition, according to a new study. Researchers from the U.K. and Canada found that starting at around age two until 11, children with autism tended to sleep 17 to 43 fewer minutes each night than their peers without autism. Researchers said the decreased sleep was due to periods of wakefulness during the night. Photo:L-r: Dr. Osi Akpene, Mrs. ChiddyIbiam, Barr.{Mrs.} Helen Mbakwe, President of foundation,Hajiah Umah Sehu and Mrs. Emily Ajisebutu at the conference organized by Keera Autism Foundation, held recently at Lekki, to create awareness and empowerment for the people living with autism. While the discrepancy in sleep shrank when children reached their teens, researchers found that teens with autism did still tend to get about 20 fewer minutes each night than those without the condition. The study, published in the journal, Archives of Disease in Child