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Abstract
As considerably more people are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD),
interest in the associated behaviours, including sleep problems has increased. This
has resulted in a subsequent increase in the research related to the sleep problems
occurring in people with an ASD. This article summarizes and evaluates the current
literature related to a) the higher prevalence of a sleep problem compared to typically
developing children, b) the specific types of sleep problems for people with an ASD,
and c) the possible aetiology of sleep problems in the ASDs within a biopsychosocial
framework. It is concluded that recent studies confirm that the majority of this population
are likely to experience sleep difficulties, with settling issues in children with
an ASD the most commonly reported. However, exploration of the types of sleep difficulties
and associated aetiological factors in the ASDs is still in its infancy.