Abstract
Introduction: Sleep difficulties are prevalent and significant experiences of children with autism spectrum. Home polysomnography (HPSG) is the gold standard for assessing sleep difficulties in children. However, reports on its feasibility and participants' experience within interventional randomised controlled trials (I-RCT) are notably scarce, making this study particularly valuable.
Method: This study observed multiple HPSGs of twenty children (6- 12 years, 9.1+1.55 years: 16 males) with autism spectrum and reported sleep difficulties during an I-RCT between December 2023 and May 2024. The HPSG was performed using a Nox-A1 device. Monitored signals included frontal electroencephalogram (FpZ, F4, and F3), two electrooculograms, two chin electromyograms, electrocardiogram, respiratory inductance plethysmography, and pulse oximetry. The HPSGs were generally administered at 6:30 pm in the participant’s home. A descriptive analysis of the child's compliance, primary caregiver-reported experiences and physician’s HPSG report was conducted.
Results: Forty HPSGs were conducted. Each participant received two HPSGs within a 14-day interval. Most (n=19; 95%) participants readily tolerated the HPSG set-up at home and were asleep within 15-270mins (93mins + 58.4). Two (10%) participants were reported to have experienced discomfort with the set-up overnight but no significant difficulties or events. One participant was reported to have skin sensitivity during the doffing of the device. The physician’s report showed that most (n=19; 95%) HPSGs were technically adequate.
Conclusion: The findings of this study underscore the feasibility and technical adequacy of HPSG for children with autism spectrum and sleep difficulties during I-RCT, providing valuable insights for the field of pediatric sleep medicine.
This study received ethics approval from the University of the Sunshine Coast Australia (Ethics number S221766) and was registered at the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.anzctr.org.au/Identifier: ACTRN1262300075761).