Anyone who has ever been a parent, recognises the impact sleep deprivation and sleep disturbance has had on their quality of functioning and/or on that of their children.

Sleep disturbances are an incredibly important consideration in children with autism and/or intellectual disability because the prevalence of this issue in this group is anywhere between 40-80% says Dr Hugh Allen a Respiratory and Sleep Paediatric specialist at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

The impact of this cannot be underestimated on not just the child, but the parent as well, in terms of their functioning and quality of life says Dr Hugh Allen. Poor quality sleep impacts a child’s ability to attend therapy meaningfully and has a profound effect on any existing anxiety or mental health disorder he says.

Tiredness exacerbates any underlying psychopathology, he says, and can make it more difficult to practice strategies introduced at therapy.