Autism
Autism is not caused by airway issues—but sleep-disordered breathing can meaningfully worsen daytime function, behavior, and caregiver burden when present.
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Sleep and Autism: Current Research, Clinical Assessment, and Treatment Strategies.
Estes A, Hillman A, Chen ML.
High-level clinical review: sleep problems are common in autism and sleep-disordered breathing is a key, treatable contributor that should be screened, not dismissed.
[Focus (American Psychiatric Association Publishing), 2023]
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Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review and Systematic Update.
Schwichtenberg AJ, et al.
Maps the autism–sleep evidence base, reinforcing that sleep disruption is pervasive and clinically meaningful, including sleep-disordered breathing as a recurring concern.
[Current Sleep Medicine Reports, 2022]
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Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Correlations and Complexities.
Review.
Focused review on SDB in ASD, summarizing evidence that airway and sleep issues significantly affect health and daytime functioning in autistic children.
[Children (MDPI), 2023]
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Autism.
Mitchell RB, et al.
Describes clinical characteristics of ASD children referred for polysomnography and predictors of OSA severity, supporting proactive screening rather than assumption-based reassurance.
[Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2019]
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Can We Predict Which Children With Autism Will Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Addresses prediction of OSA in ASD, supporting structured screening because symptoms overlap with behavioral features and can delay diagnosis.
[Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2019]
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Evaluation of Behavioral Change After Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Shows behavioral improvement after adenotonsillectomy in ASD children with OSA, reinforcing treatment of airway obstruction as function-supporting, not “autism-treating.”
[Sleep Medicine, 2017]
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Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Developmental Disabilities.
Xanthopoulos MS, Kim JY, Arevalo C, et al.
Demonstrates PAP adherence patterns in children with developmental disabilities versus typically developing peers, supporting realistic implementation planning rather than assuming “they can’t do CPAP.”
[Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 2019]
Link List
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https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.focus.20230028
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40675-022-00234-5
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/10/10/1609
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.5664/jcsm.7978.pdf
https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/pdf/10.5664/jcsm.8006
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891422217301087
https://link.springer.com/article/10.5664/jcsm.7850