There are many factors that can perform nap patterns for commonwealth on the Autism Spectrum and LD. This article is a collection of advice and strategies from a variety of sources.
Sleep associations
These are the intellect and bodys system of telling us when it is time to nap. Each of us has there acknowledge associations e.g lights on/off, cocoa before bed etc.. Often how we go to nap will determine if we have mishap going back to nap if we wake. It is not advisable if you wake during the night to slip asleep with the TV on. The nap association will be with the TV therefore you may requisite the TV back on in the middle of the night to slither back to nap. People with Autism/LD are no different however there may be other factors to deem.
Distancing approach
When a child/person has difficulties settling to Sleep one passage most likely to sit with them. This would serve as a comfort but besides to remind them it is time to nap. When sitting by them do not incite conversation but say'time to nap....' At first it may take some time before the person settles however with consistency this should reduce. This of style creates a snooze association so the next steps are to withdraw from the bedroom (slowly) step by step to eventually out of the room.
Structure/Routine
Sleep can be disturbed due to a lack of system and structure. For some land on the Autism Spectrum/LD who self-self-self-possession on structure for security and to make sense of the world changes can have a good gain on snooze patterns.
Advice
Have the same presence that everyone follows. Stick to it at the weekend and steady when on holiday as situation with AS/LD can locate it hard to take changes to routines. A visual/portray timetable may be useful as it shows clearly what the evening method is. For specimen the method could be as follows:
Meal-Activity-Bath-Clean teeth-Toilet-Bed time
This timetable could be placed somewhere that is easily accessed.
Each step could have a symbol which can faraway-off-off as each job is finished. (perhaps put it in an envelope).
A speech and language therapist or teacher could better parents/carers to access the symbols or go to the local library and access Boardmaker' software upon the computer.
Communication-Social Stories
This is an approach that can better country with AS/LD to apprehend the social rules' regarding snooze, for standard, that everyone needs to snooze, where to snooze, when to execute up. Some commonwealth with AS/LD who have all absorbing interests may craving to endure up all night interesting in them.
A speech and language therapist or teacher may improve you fabricate a social story.
Communication-Objects of Reference
These are everyday objects that can help race with a learning handicap communicate their needs/choices, particularly if they are non verbal.
For example a photo of their bed/bedroom, a positive blanket or cuddly toy could be introduced. Whenever you are prompting a person to go to bed, expose them the intention as you say the word/make the omen. Over time they will custom that goal to indicate that they craving to go to bed, or realise that this purpose indicates what is happening next.
Continence
If someone has continence difficulties either being incontinent at night or being constipated this will execute snooze.
Advice-
Try to foster the person to habit the toilet during the evening before bed. Assess their bowel movements for constipation. You may requisite further advice when there is waking due to being dank or soiled.
Environmental and sensory needs
Many land with AS/LD are sensitive to their environments. It worth doing an environmental and sensory needs assessment when considering snooze, to locate out what preferences are.
A Learning Disability Nurse or Occupational Therapist could improve you
Overstimulation
Around an hour before bed begin to wind down'. Turn off the T.V./music (that is stimulating), ignore lively play, and glum the lights.
Hearing/racket sensitivity
Consider using thick carpets that deaden noises. Shut their bedroom door and have their bedroom in a quieter distribute of the house. Consider noises from the bathroom and the position of a bed in the room can be distinctive, circumvent it being close-fisted-fisted pipes, the bathroom or looking out over a busy, loud street.
A white uproar'; for example humming or a radio tuned out can help others to compromise.
Vision sensitivity
Use neutral colours that are not likewise intense or loud. Plain or pastel coloured walls and carpets, go around patterns, stripes. Avoid visual displays upon the walls. Keep the room clutter free; exclude toys/TV/play station/Wii etc. The bedroom should be for snooze only not for play.
Use black out blinds/curtains/shutters to block out the swift if a child has hypersensitivity to simple. If a child is frightened of the dark introduce a night easy. If switch flicking' is a problem remove the dexterous bulb or trust having the switch moved to outside the bedroom door.
Smell sensitivity
Consider using odourless non toxic paints/wall paper paste. Avoid strong smelling express fresheners and cleaning materials.
Touch sensitivity
Think about whether your child prefers deep pressure when being touched. If so they may requisite hefty/weighted blankets tightly tucked in to feel secure. Others may requisite lighter bed clothing if they are hypersensitive to influence. Looking at bedding materials that may afflict.
Temperature
Try to reclaim the bedroom at a durable temperature that is snug for your child. Perhaps habit a thermostat.
Spacial sensitivity
Keep furniture to a minimum and have it placed around the edges of the room in worldly lines. Avoid objects in the centre or in walkways. If furniture needs to be moved do it gradually. Don't change too many things at once.
Involve everyone in planning for any changes and forewarn them that it is going to happen. Discourage bouncing upon the bed; instead introduce a trampoline in another sole of the house.
Food and allergies stimulation
Look at diet. If they are eating and drinking foodstuffs that have a lot of sugar, caffeine or additives their snooze can be affected. Avoid these all together if practicable but definitely not around bedtime.
If every else fails -Melatonin?
Melatonin (snooze hormone) can be irregular for some state with AC and learning disability for various reasons. The habit of melatonin as a concise epoch system of helping to instigate a snooze system may be helpful. It could be used in alongside behavioural approaches described above.
Some foods have melatonin in such as plums, bananas and Brazil nuts. However, no research into the potential benefits of a diet that is high in melatonin and the fulfill upon nap has been carried out yet.
Relaxation techniques
Massage can be helpful in reducing activity levels but this depends upon individual's sensitivity.
Lavender oil drops upon the pillow can assist to persuade relaxation and nap but again sensitivity and seizures need to be considered.
Relaxation music or tapes can be helpful for some nation with AS.
Some other General advice
What to do if your Child gets out of bed
When young children imitate from sleeping in a cot to sleeping in their acknowledge bed they may need ameliorate to learn to staid in bed.
Waking in the night and coming into the parents' bed is furthermore a trite problem in young kids. 30 to 40 percent of children old two to five acquire up at night upon a accustomed basis. They may vent fears of the shady, ghosts or monsters.
What to do.
Stay tranquil and revert your child to their admit bed. If sustenance select them up and carry them. Do this as many times as needed. Do not take a child into your bed as this is likely to transport the behaviour.
If your child comes into your room at night because they are anxious about whether you are there, take them back to their room and reassure them briefly that you will be there and will notice them in the morning and depart the room. Be tranquil and firm. Do not be mad with your child or provide besides much attention e.g. cuddles. Any conspicuous or negative attention is likely to reinforce the behaviour example.
If your child has nightmares, revolve upon the steadfast briefly and reveal them how common their room is. Reasssure them that everyone has dreams sometimes and that they are not genuine. Do not take them into your room to comfort them so that they learn to handle their fears in their avow bed.
Early Waking
By 5am a person will have completed most of his/her nights nap.
At this early hour the craving to nap is less stalwart than at bedtime or earlier in the night. Some children, now sleeping more lightly, will wake if there is a swift disturbance e.g. level entering the room, early rising family member, industry noise etc If interruptions are frequent enough your child will learn to hope them and may begin to wake spontaneously or as a utilize before dawn. The problems are best solved by reducing disturbing factors.
If early waking continues then delay your response to your childs awakening. If your child is crying and depressed then he/she is soundless likely to be in a night time sleeping rhythm and needs to learn the practice of going back to nap. Go into their room, tuck him up and say, "Go to nap" and depart the room. Return at 10-15 minute intervals and repeat the thesame message. If you are consistent in doing this, after a week or so, your child should begin to sleep a tiny longer.
Do not subsidy early waking with milk/bottle/beverage, food. play, attention or coming into your bed. This will then become a yearn-suffering term early waking use.
Early waking can be cunning. Some children are early wakers despite every efforts to vary their sleep standard but most can learn to sleep a tiny longer. If your child is already getting an adequate number of hours of sleep, then regard delaying bedtime by thirty to sixty minutes. For some parents it may be you will have be up earlier than you might imagination for a few months until your child extends his/her sleep ideal.
Once you have reassured your child, depart their room. Ignore crying and protests. Return them to their bed without speaking if they continue to acquire out of bed. You might craving to calmly common their door and to frank it once they are in bed and bashful for two minutes.
Consider a prize programme. Give your child a sticker for each night that they convey in their acknowledge bed. Stickers could be traded in for a small treat at the intent of the week.
During the day, improve your child to feel secure and loved through compliment and encouragement. They might craving to draw a describe of a scary dream or to arrive up with an alternative happy ending. You might desire to repeat that dreams are not genuine and to chat about what to do to acquire back to sleep if a dream wakes them up. For case bid them to slow of a place where they feel happy and safe when they are going back to sleep. Try to have these conversations in the daytime and redeem interaction down to a minimum at night so they are not rewarded with your attention.
'Sleep deprivation is used as effective torture in some parts of the world'
Good luck
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