ADHD Awareness Month: What Researchers Are Learning About Sleep, ADHD and/or Autism in Young Children
Why Sleep Matters for Children with ADHD and Autism
Bedtime might be the most talked-about hour in family life. It comes up at the playground, at the pediatrician’s office and in group chats at 9 p.m. Researchers are still putting that picture together, and it’s a good reminder of how closely sleep is tied to how children grow and develop.
For children with ADHD, one part of that connection is well known: many studies have found that sleep troubles are common. What has been much less clear is when those differences begin. Most of the research has looked at school-age children, and by then it’s hard to look back and see where things started.
That’s the question a research team took on in a study published this year in the journal Autism Research. Instead of starting with children who already had a diagnosis, they started at the very beginning, with babies.
The team followed 209 children from infancy as part of a sibling study. Many of the babies had an older brother or sister already diagnosed with autism or ADHD, which made them more likely to be diagnosed themselves. Years later, some of the children had been diagnosed with ADHD, autism or both, and the researchers could look back at how those early nights compared.
What they found was a bit of a twist. In the baby months, there wasn’t much to see. At 10 and 14 months, babies across all the groups woke up and settled down in similar ways.
The sleep troubles showed up later. By ages 2 and 3, parents of children who were later diagnosed reported that falling asleep took longer, sleep seemed to fall short of what their child needed, and there were more unusual behaviors during sleep, which doctors call “parasomnias.” Overall, there were simply more sleep troubles.
There was a hopeful thread, too. Among autistic children, resistance at bedtime got better between ages 2 and 3.
One of the more interesting ideas in the paper is that the sleep troubles looked similar whether a child was later diagnosed with ADHD, autism or both. The authors suggest this may point to something the conditions share, rather than something unique to one diagnosis. They also note that the sleep troubles they saw in toddlers were more limited than what’s often described in older kids.
As with any single study, it helps to know what this one can’t tell us. The sleep information came from parents rather than from medical sleep tests, and the authors say future studies should measure sleep directly. The study shows a connection, not a cause: it doesn’t mean poor sleep leads to ADHD, or the other way around. And because many of the children had an older sibling with autism or ADHD, the results may not apply to all children.
What studies like this do offer is a clearer picture of the earliest years, the stretch before a diagnosis, when families are just getting to know how their child sleeps. Researchers are still putting that picture together, and it’s a good reminder of how closely sleep and attention are tied.
If you have questions about your child’s sleep or attention, your child’s own doctor is the best person to talk with.
Houston Specialty Clinic cares for children with neurology and sleep concerns. To schedule an appointment, call us at 713-464-4107.
Questions and answers
Do children with ADHD have more trouble sleeping?
Many studies have reported more sleep troubles in children with ADHD. This new study looked at very young children. Parents reported differences by ages 2 and 3, but not in babies. One study cannot answer the question for every child. Families with questions can talk with their child’s doctor.
Can a baby’s sleep show whether they will have ADHD?
This study did not test that. The researchers found no differences in night waking or settling down at 10 or 14 months. Differences showed up later, around ages 2 and 3. Results from a group of children cannot predict what will happen for one child.
Why are researchers studying sleep in ADHD and autism together?
Many children have both conditions, and sleep troubles are common in each. The authors suggest the sleep differences they saw may come from something the conditions share, rather than from one diagnosis alone. They say more research is needed to understand why.
Kurz et al., “Sleep in Young Children With Autism, ADHD and Combined Presentations,” Autism Research, 2026. Study type: prospective cohort study. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70326
This post is for general information only. It summarizes published research and is not medical or legal advice. Reading it does not create a doctor–patient relationship with Houston Specialty Clinic. Please talk with your own doctor about any questions regarding your or your child’s health. If you think there is an emergency, call 911. Findings described here reflect the original source as of the date of publication. Houston Specialty Clinic is not affiliated with and does not endorse any product, company, or organization mentioned.
Comments