This research evaluated the parent reports of sleep behaviors of four groups of children: those with behaviors indicative of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, those with General Mental Retardation, those attending Special Education classes (with no MR diagnosis), and a control group of similar aged children without a developmental diagnosis. Diagnostic classification and demographic information was determined through parent report, classroom registration, and the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (Gilliam, 1995). To evaluate sleeping behavior the study used a 107 question Likert scale (Behavioral Evaluation of Disorders of Sleep: BEDS) constructed from the diagnostic criteria for childhood sleep disorders found in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders: Diagnostic and Coding Manual (ICSD/American Sleep Disorders Association, 1990). Findings indicate that children with Autistic behaviors exhibit similar quantities of sleep. However, parent perception of sleep difficulties and quality of sleep is different for them than for children in the other groups. Comparisons of daytime behavior and sleep problems for all groups, show associations between stereotypies and social disturbances and sleep problems. However, communication abnormality and impaired social interactions are more predictive of sleep behavior for children with Autism.
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