The present study was carried out to further our understanding of the relationship between children's specific sleep difficulties and the diagnostic criteria for autism and, thereby, to inform the development of sleep treatment approaches tailored for individual children. Parents, participating in research that is part of a center-based intervention program for children with developmental disabilities and their families, reported on their children's (N = 80; ranging from 4 to 15 years old, M = 8.2 years) sleep and autism. Significant correlations between children's sleep problems and the diagnostic domains of autism were obtained. Sleep-disordered breathing predicted children's stereotyped behavior, social interaction problems, and overall level of autism; the Parasomnias subscale was the primary predictor of children's developmental disturbances. Further research is required to examine the relationship of these and other specific sleep problems, as well as comorbid conditions and current medications, to children's sleep duration and increased daytime symptomology.
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