Jun 5, 2026 · 50 min · 15 segments
**Sleep Disturbances in Autism and Neurodivergent Conditions: A Discussion with Dr. Beth Malow, MD, Neurologist and Sleep Disorder Expert**…
Dave FinchHostYou know, as, as a speech-language pathologist, when I've consulted to schools and programs and a teacher would say, um, "This youngster comes in so dysregulated," it, it just seems I, I was guessing at the time, but for many years I would just say, "Well, how does he or she sleep?" [laughs] So and very often, of course, we would hear, "Not so well." So how common are sleep issues in autistic individuals versus the general population?
So sleep affects, uh, probably about two-thirds to, uh, four-fifths of people with autism.
Maybe, I don't know, about 20% of kids with autism may not have any sleep issues.
Uh, and, uh, then they also have a lot of medical issues, maybe on anti-Depressants or other medicines that affect sleep.
Uh, so there's lots of reasons why kids with, um... kids on the autism spectrum may struggle.
I, uh... ever since my teens I have not been, um, somebody who just lays down and goes to sleep.
And, uh, once I'm asleep though, I almost have waking inertia, meaning when I'm awake, I'm awake and I can't get to sleep, but when I'm asleep, I'm asleep and I cannot wake up.
So, um, I, I... it's interesting to me that the autistic brain in particular would have... would not have maybe the same override circuit that other just non-autistic brains might have that say, like, "This is the time when we down regulate.
Now we're asleep." I make it sound like it's that easy for everybody, but I assume it's not just that easy for everybody, correct?
It's... what you're describing is, is, is very common, and it is amenable though.
You know, as, as a speech-language pathologist, when I've consulted to schools and programs and a teacher would say, um, "This youngster comes in so dysregulated," it, it just seems I, I was guessing at the time, but for many years I would just say, "Well, how does he or she sleep?" [laughs] So and very often, of course, we would hear, "Not so well." So how common are sleep issues in autistic individuals versus the general population?
So sleep affects, uh, probably about two-thirds to, uh, four-fifths of people with autism.
Maybe, I don't know, about 20% of kids with autism may not have any sleep issues.
Uh, and, uh, then they also have a lot of medical issues, maybe on anti-Depressants or other medicines that affect sleep.
Uh, so there's lots of reasons why kids with, um... kids on the autism spectrum may struggle.
I, uh... ever since my teens I have not been, um, somebody who just lays down and goes to sleep.
And, uh, once I'm asleep though, I almost have waking inertia, meaning when I'm awake, I'm awake and I can't get to sleep, but when I'm asleep, I'm asleep and I cannot wake up.
So, um, I, I... it's interesting to me that the autistic brain in particular would have... would not have maybe the same override circuit that other just non-autistic brains might have that say, like, "This is the time when we down regulate.
Now we're asleep." I make it sound like it's that easy for everybody, but I assume it's not just that easy for everybody, correct?
It's... what you're describing is, is, is very common, and it is amenable though.
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