FAQautism

Sometimes we need to take a step back and scout out the clues to challenging issues related to autism. For example, several families have been struggling with issues related to sleeplessness for several months. After looking closely at the surrounding issues, they were able to help everyone in the family get a good night’s sleep.

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Waiting for Brother. A teenager with autism who had not typically struggled with sleep issues began staying up very late several months ago. She would go into her room without protest, but, after the family went to bed, she often wandered into the kitchen for a snack, turning on lights, then perching on a chair in the living room until well after midnight. Although she did not turn on the television or make loud noises, her midnight roaming woke up her parents and her younger brothers and sisters. As her parents thought through factors that might contribute to the new pattern of sleeplessness, they realized that the teens older brother had a summer job that required him to close a restaurant very late at night. He usually did not arrive home until well after the midnight. When they looked closely, they realized their daughter with autism only roamed on nights their son was out late, and that she headed contentedly for bed once he was back home. Their daughter had not developed an alarming new pattern of sleeplessness – she was just waiting up for her brother.

Television Shows. A ten-year-old with autism was not sleeping, and his parents were worried. He seemed content to go into his room and turn out the lights at a reasonable hour, but then they heard him up and about in his room until late in the evening. He didn’t turn on the lights in his room, but he was usually sitting up wide- awake in his bean-bag chair or on his bed whenever his parents peeked in his room. As it turns out, one of the walls of the youngster’s room adjoins the family room where parents were watching television. Although the volume was not turned up loud, the youngster could hear just enough to want to follow the plot of the shows and catching up on the late night news mom and dad watched each evening. Not only was their son losing sleep, he was also overhearing movie plots and news items inappropriate for his age.

TIP FOR THE DAY: If a person with autism develops a new habit such as sleeplessness, take a close look at all the circumstances surrounding the issue so you can scout out the reasons and make changes so everyone involved can say “Good night,” and sleep tight.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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