Beth Malow (TN Vanderbilt UCEDD) Develops Sleep Tips- Now Available through Autism Speaks

March 8, 2013

Beth Malow, M.D., M.S.

Nationally-known autism awareness organization Autism Speaks has now made available for download a "Quick Tips" module to accompany "Strategies to Improve Sleep in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders." These tips include visual supports as well as suggestions for promoting sleep in children with limited verbal skills. Both the Toolkit and the Quick Tips were created by Beth Malow, M.D., M.S., Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD) Investigator and Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development; Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, and Director, Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Division.

Malow has devoted her career to studying sleep disturbances in individuals with ASD. Her research has examined the effectiveness of behavioral treatments and of medications and supplements such as melatonin.

The translation of her research into practical tools such as the Toolkit and Quick Tips are giving hope to families who need more sleep. Sleep is associated with mood, learning, and daytime behavior. Prevalence rates of sleep disorders in children with ASD range from 44% to 83%.      

Malow credits Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Art Director Kylie Beck with the formatting of the toolkit, and Kim Frank, M.Ed., and Terry Katz, Ph.D., for assistance with the content of the toolkit.

To download the free toolkit tips, click here.