title: A sleep habits questionnaire for children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Sleep difficulties in children with autism spectrum disorders are common, with poor sleep hygiene a contributing factor. We developed the Family Inventory of Sleep Habits to measure sleep hygiene in this population. Its validity and reliability in 2 groups of children aged 4 to 10 years, those with a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, and those who are typically developing are described. In both groups, total and modified (reflecting insomnia subscales) scores on the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire showed significant negative correlations with the total score. The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III was significantly correlated with total score in the autism spectrum group but not in the typically developing group. Age and socioeconomic status were not correlated with total score in either group. This preliminary work suggests that the Family Inventory of Sleep Habits is a valid and reliable measure of sleep hygiene in autism spectrum disorders.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Disorders Division, Department of Neurology and Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. beth.malow@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Malow
authors.forename: Crystal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.forename: Lynnette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: McGrew
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yanna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires