Brantley laughs in the face of traditional sleep patterns. He is a devoted night owl who revels in the wee hours of the night. Each night a baby monitor fills my room with the sounds of his nocturnal laughter, lively jumps and gleeful squeals making it evident that Brantley is having the time of his life.
While I lay in bed listening to my wild boy’s party, I often contemplate if his inability to sleep is karma due to my foolish beliefs that we had mastered sleep with him at such an early age. After all, prior to the start of his nightly escapades, Brantley was an excellent sleeper.
And then Autism walked in.
The intricate connection between Autism and sleep issues weaves a complex tapestry, entwining the challenges experienced by many individuals dealing with Autism. For Brantley, the longer he is awake, the more impulsive and restless his body is.
Statistics indicate that a staggering 80% of the autism community grapples with sleep difficulties. The conventional notion of sleeping when expected gives way to a reality where individuals like Brantley sleep when they can, not when societal norms dictate, which is often only a few hours a night if any.
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