Sleep Disturbances Increase the Impact of Working Memory Deficits on Learning Problems in Adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders 2020-05, Vol.50 (5), p.1701-1713
• Main Authors: Calhoun, Susan L., Pearl, Amanda M., Fernandez-Mendoza, Julio, Durica, Krina C., Mayes, Susan D., Murray, Michael J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology; Autistic adolescents; Behavior therapy; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Child and School Psychology; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive Ability; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Complications and side effects; Correlation; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Drug therapy; Evaluation; Female; High functioning; Humans; Insomnia; Learning; Learning Disabilities - diagnosis; Learning Disabilities - epidemiology; Learning Disabilities - psychology; Learning Problems; Learning Processes; Male; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - epidemiology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Memory, Short-Term - physiology; Mentally disabled teenagers; Mentally disabled youth; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Psychology; Public Health; Risk factors; Short Term Memory; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology; Teenagers
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03928-y

Sleep disturbances (SD) are prevalent in individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Less is known about the effects of SD on cognition and learning in adolescents with high-functioning ASD (HF-ASD). Adolescents with HF-ASD (N = 96) were evaluated for the relationships of SD to working memory and learning problems. Results found SD to modify the relationship between working memory and learning problems. Working memory deficits were associated with learning problems among those with SD, while not among those without SD. SD and working memory deficits should be targeted in interventions for these adolescents with HF-ASD (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia, pharmacological treatments). Future studies should examine if improvement in SD reduces the impact of working memory deficits on learning problems.