The Relationship between Sensory Processing Disorder and Quality of Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Learning Disorder from 6 to 14 Years' Old

Sensory problems can affect the functioning of individuals in a variety of daily activities in different aspects. One of these aspects of daily activity is the quality and quantity of sleep. Sensory processing perhaps is the most basic psychological element that determine how individuals perceive and respond to environmental stimuli. Given this, this study aimed to investigate the effect of sensory processing disorder on sleep quality of children with autism spectrum disorder and learning disorder.

The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was performed on 23 children with autism spectrum disorder and 20 children with learning disorder from 6 to 14 years' old. Two Child Sleep Habits Quality (CSHQ) and Sensory profile 2 questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test in SPSS 22 software.

The results of data analysis showed that children with ASD have lower sleep quality than children with specific learning disorder (P=0/033). Children with autism also received higher scores on sensory profile 2 subtests except visual and olfactory processing than children with specific learning disorders. In children with ASD the highest scores are related to Sensory Sensitivity (45.83) and sensory registration (45.17) and lowest score is related to visual processing (10.96). However, children with specific learning disorders have highest score in sensory registration (43.40) and lowest score in body position processing (8.55).

The findings of the study emphasized children with poor sleep quality had sensory processing disorder and sleep quality were reduced. There was a significant relationship between sensory registration (P=0.005) and sensory sensitivity (P=0.012) with sleep quality. Therefore, it seems necessary to support children in considering proper sensory diet and taking measures to resolve their sensory problems and thus improve their sleep patterns.