Asperger Syndrome and Sleep?!
Question: Hey Guys,
Just a question about Asperger Syndrome and sleep. Now I know that people with Asperger syndrome have trouble getting to sleep but is it possible for someone with Asperger Syndrome to sleep to an excessive level?
Thanks for the head up.
Damian
Answers: Hey Guys,
Just a question about Asperger Syndrome and sleep. Now I know that people with Asperger syndrome have trouble getting to sleep but is it possible for someone with Asperger Syndrome to sleep to an excessive level?
Thanks for the head up.
Damian
My son is 20 years old in 2 weeks. He has Aspergers and has a MAJOR problem with sleeping too long. If he wasn't woken he would sleep more than 24 hours straight. He was also diagnosed with 2 forms of sleep apneoa. One form causes your breathing to be cut off in the back of the throat and you struggle to get your breath back and it wakes you up. The other form is caused by a mechanism in the brain that actually stops sending the message to breathe, therefore you stop breathing. You don't struggle to breath and your blood gets low in oxygen, therefore making you more tired. It is possible to die because of this form but don't get alarmed, you have to be really severe for this possibility. My son was only diagnosed with the sleep apneoa 14 months ago. I knew he struggled to breath which woke him up but I didn't know that the other type was depriving his body of oxygen. I asked the doctor if this is the reason my son has aspergers and he said no, more likely to be the other way round. I would have been horrified if it was something that I could have avoided when he was a babe. I have learned that it is a common problem (sleeping excessively) with aspergers but I haven't come across anyone else with this until now. My son now has a cpap machine that helps him get a good night sleep, now all I have to do is figure a way to remind him to put it on at night!! He doesn't live with me now but it is always going to be a battle to keep up with it. I know when he isn't using it as he will yawn constantly, he will start to nod off while watching tv, or if he stays idle long enough. If your son/daughter does snore a lot or struggles in their sleep, this is something you check out, even if only to exclude it, for your own peace of mind. My sons sleep apneoa is classed as mild, and it makes a big difference to his concentration and energy levels when he uses the cpap. Hope I haven't gone on too long. Good luck. Email me if you wish.
yes they can do both. creatures of habit unfortunately