Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is a beneficial treatment that helps reinforce positive behaviors in individuals, namely children with autism spectrum disorder. This therapy helps with common issues encountered by children with autism, such as social interactions, focus, studying, communication, and sleep.
ABA therapy is increasingly popular to help individuals struggling with sleeping problems related to autism. But how can ABA therapy help with regulating sleep? Read more to find out about how ABA therapy impacts individuals with autism-related sleep issues.
Understanding Autism and Sleep Issues
Children with autism spectrum disorder often have problems getting healthy amounts of sleep. As parents of children with special needs, understanding the relationship between autism and sleep issues is crucial. An estimated 80 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulties sleeping.
These struggles include difficulty falling asleep, frequently waking up during the night, and reduced TST. When sleep problems continue, children with autism can experience several adverse effects that make life with the disorder more difficult for children and parents. Therefore, a solution is needed – and it is often found in ABA therapy.
How ABA Therapy Impacts Autism-Related Sleep Issues
Several ABA therapy interventions can help address autism-related sleep issues for your child. Here are a few ways that ABA therapy can address these sleep problems to help your child get a restful night’s sleep.
ABA Therapy Identifies Triggers and Patterns
One of the first ways that applied behavior analysis therapy helps address autism-related sleep issues is that this method carefully identifies triggers and patterns contributing to poor sleep. An experienced ABA therapist can work closely with your child to identify the problems causing a lack of sleep through careful observations.
With autism, several possible factors can cause poor sleep health related to the disorder. For example, repetitive and obsessive behaviors, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, or problems with the child’s circadian rhythm can all contribute to unhealthy sleep patterns. ABA therapy is the first step to identifying the core problem behind your child’s sleeping habits and can make treatment moving forward much easier.
ABA Therapy Uses Individualized Interventions
A significant advantage of ABA therapy for sleep problems is that ABA therapists use individualized approaches to treat your child’s specific sleep habits and needs. By identifying the triggers and patterns contributing to your child’s lack of sleep, an ABA therapist can devise a tailored plan to help your child adopt healthier sleeping behaviors. These adjustments can transform your child’s sleep patterns and help them get the sleep they need to stay healthy and alert during the day.
ABA Therapy Promotes Healthy Sleep-Related Behaviors
ABA therapy focuses on behavior modification and can address your child’s specific needs to promote healthier sleep-related behaviors. ABA encourages behavioral adjustments to improve your child’s overall health and well-being, using positive reinforcement to encourage and sustain improved behaviors.
For instance, an ABA therapist might recommend using small rewards to reinforce healthy behaviors for your child when they go to bed on time, stay in bed throughout the night, or accomplish other sleep-related goals. This process encourages repeated healthy behaviors to get your child on a healthy sleep schedule.
ABA Therapy is Intensive
One way that ABA therapy impacts your child’s sleep is that it’s relatively intensive and takes a lot of focus and energy on your child’s behalf. By encouraging your child to put in effort to focus on behavioral adjustments, they’ll naturally feel more tired at the end of the day and be more prepared for a full night of sleep.
Intensive ABA intervention is most effective for treating children with autism spectrum disorder. The more effort your child puts into therapy – especially when combined with all their other daily responsibilities – the more prepared they’ll be to sleep when it comes to bedtime.
ABA Therapy Strategies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
An ABA therapist might consider several strategies to help your child with autism spectrum disorder sleep better. Here are a few strategies you might encounter when your child participates in ABA therapy for sleep problems.
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
One thing your child’s ABA therapist might consider to help your child sleep better is establishing a concrete bedtime routine. A bedtime routine can help your child understand that it’s time to sleep and prepare their mind and body for rest. This routine might start at a specific time that you stick to every night and include steps like brushing your child’s teeth, reading them a bedtime story, hugging and kissing them goodnight, dimming the lights, and more.
Once a healthy routine is established, it’s essential to stick with it to help your child make the most of this new routine. The more consistent you are with your child’s bedtime routine, the more effective it will be at adjusting their sleeping behaviors in the long run.
Positive Reinforcement Strategies
An ABA therapist will also help you develop positive reinforcement strategies around bedtime to encourage your child to adopt healthier sleeping behaviors. Children with autism spectrum disorder might resist bedtime initially, especially if they’re used to frequent sleeping problems. So, positive reinforcement is one of your best options for them to stick to their new schedule.
Your child’s ABA therapist will help you develop specific strategies to make positive reinforcement practical and effective. Things like providing praise, small rewards, or tokens can all go a long way in helping your child stick to their new bedtime routine.
Making Sensory Modifications
ABA therapists will also guide you on making sensory modifications for your child to help them sleep better. Depending on the root cause of your child’s sleep problems, sensory modifications can completely transform how well your child rests and responds to their sleep environment.
There are numerous potential modifications that an ABA therapist might recommend, but some common sensory adjustments include weighted blankets, different lighting, and temperature adjustments to make the space more comfortable for your child.
Enrolling Your Child in ABA Therapy
ABA therapy can transform how well your child with autism spectrum disorder sleeps at night. Enrolling your child in Path 2 Potential’s ABA therapy services can help them reach their full potential, sleep better at night, and be the best version of themselves. Enroll your child today to see the Path 2 Potential difference.