We know that as many as 1 in 10 children are now estimated to have an additional need, with autism affecting 1 in 150 children. Of these children, research has shown up to 83% of children with ASD will have sleep difficulties. These sleep problems are common at all levels of cognitive functioning, and include problems such as falling asleep, staying asleep, sleeping alone and waking in the night.
Sleep problems can cause enormous family distress and could have significant effects on daytime functioning and quality of life for children with ASDs. In some cases, there can be underlying medical issues that need to be addressed, however research has shown behavioural interventions can be highly effective in treating sleep problems.
Parents play a key role in managing their child’s sleep and often express sleep issues as being the biggest stress in their lives. For this reason Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic have launched a new sleep advisory service to help support and guide the parents of children with ASD to improve their child’s sleep and in doing so their own.
Our specialist Sleep Therapist Vicki Dawson is a qualified teacher, and has specialised in working with children with special educational needs for the last 13 years. She has obtained a postgraduate diploma in special and inclusive education and written a number of books around the subject, such as “Special Educational Needs a Parent’s Guide”.
Vicki has had a specialist interest in sleep for a number of years now and has been trained by both Sleep Scotland and Southampton Children’s Sleep Service. She has worked as a sleep practitioner for the past 5 years supporting children with additional needs, most recently with SCOPE. Vicki regularly trains professionals and parents across the country in behaviour management and sleep hygiene.
Vicki particularly enjoys supporting families with sleep problems and understands how debilitating sleep deprivation can be. “I’m a mum myself and I’ve experienced sleep problems with my children. I understand how exhausting being a parent can be at the best of times and fully empathise with families who have sleep deprivation to contend with.”
To read about one of Vicki’s recent sleep cases please use this link http://www.mill-pond.co.uk/info/case-studies/special-needs
For more details of how to access our new service and our packages please telephone 0208 444 0040.
