Overview

Sleep is an occupation crucial to optimal health and wellness for all individuals. However, the prevalence of sleep dysfunction is high in the general population, and higher in individuals with autism. Understanding the neurological underpinnings of sleep and the association with sensory processing can assist the clinician in addressing sleep concerns in practice. Participants in this seminar will learn about sleep “basics”, the importance of sleep, sleep challenges in autism, and preliminary findings from a systematic review looking at interventions based on sensory processing for sleep challenges in autism.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate evidence of differentiation and overlap between dysfunction in sensory processing/integration with other clinical disorders 
• Identify evidence-based methods of data collection 
• Demonstrate methods to document challenges, measure goals, and communicate outcomes 
• Appraise the components, tools, and outcomes of current studies documenting treatment effectiveness 
• Interpret implications/application of treatment effectiveness research in clinical practice