Sleep and Your Special Needs Child

A highly successful behavioral and cognitive approach to sleep management for special needs children

Sleep is vital for children's health, mood, behavior, and learning ability. Research shows that children with additional needs are more likely to have sleep disorders than typically developing children, and that without intervention these problems will persist. Here, a successful sleep practitioner and a health writer share their own experiences, those of other sleep experts, and those of parents. While most parents of babies expect sleep problems to resolve within months, parents of children with special needs can find them lasting into adolescence and beyond. This is a pressing issue for parents, as disturbed sleep can cause depression, relationship problems, and a weakening of the immune system. The practical advice contained here is invaluable for parents who want to feel more in control and more confident about tackling sleep issues in a way that is appropriate for their child.