Sleep strategies for profoundly autistic learners

With up to 80% of autistic children experiencing sleep disturbances, families are desperate for guidance. Yet most BCBAs graduate without any formal training on how to assess or address sleep. That gap is your opportunity to stand out. When you (or your clinic) can confidently support families in this critical area, you: ✅ Improve treatment fidelity and skill acquisition. ✅ Strengthen caregiver trust and engagement. ✅ Reduce burnout — for staff and families alike. ✅ Differentiate your services in a competitive field. Sleep isn’t just another behavior target — it’s the foundation that makes every other goal achievable. And when families see you can help in this deeply impactful area, they don’t just stay — they refer. 👉 If you’re ready to add one of the most high-demand, career-defining skills to your toolkit, now’s the time to build sleep competence. (Link in comments to learn how.) #ABA #BCBA #SleepSupport #Autism #BehaviorAnalysis #ClinicGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #TheSleepCollective

Not every sleep challenge is behavioral… and knowing the difference is what keeps our practice ethical, effective, and respected. As BCBAs, we’re trained to look for the contingencies that maintain behavior. But when it comes to sleep, not all variables are environmental. Some are medical and missing those red flags can mean families spend months chasing the wrong solution. This week’s blog explores how to identify when sleep problems are within a BCBA’s scope to address, and when collaboration or referral is the most ethical next step. From snoring and reflux to seizure history and excessive daytime sleepiness, we’re unpacking what to look for, how to talk about it, and how to stay aligned with pediatric and medical teams. Because collaboration only strengthens behavior analysis. 👉 Read the full article: “When Sleep Problems Aren’t Behavioral: How BCBAs Stay in Scope.” (link in comments) #ABA #BCBA #BehaviorAnalysis #Sleep #Autism #ProfessionalDevelopment #EthicalPractice #InterdisciplinaryCare #ReadySetSleep

Research opportunity: Social media, sleep and anxiety study Lived Experience Australia is collaborating with Flinders University and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) on research exploring the relationship between social media use, sleep patterns and anxiety symptoms. We know from our members that this relationship is nuanced. Social media can provide vital connection and peer support, particularly for people in rural and remote areas or those who struggle with face-to-face interaction. It can also amplify anxiety through compulsive use patterns, fear of judgement, and disrupted sleep - often all at once, for the same person. This research aims to assess whether real-time social media and sleep data could help identify behavioural patterns associated with anxiety, ultimately informing early detection approaches and acceptable AI-based support solutions. The study has been developed with a Lived Experience Co-design Group, and we're now seeking survey responses from anyone aged 18+ who uses social media on a smartphone and has experienced anxiety in relation to that use. This includes consumers, family members, carers and kin. The survey covers technology use patterns, social media experiences, and preferences for types of AI-based support. Results will be available from February 2026. Led by Professor Sharon Lawn at Flinders University (Ethics approval No.8983), this research centres lived experience perspectives in understanding and responding to mental health challenges in digital spaces. Survey closes 9 November 2025. Take the survey: https://zurl.co/h8tO4 🙏🙏 Please share with others who may be able to contribute. #socialmediaresearch #mentalhealthadvocacy #livedexperience

Brilliant colleagues at KU have conducted a groundbreaking study revealing alarming trends in sleep problems among young adults in Denmark. Data from over 2 million Danes aged 15-40 show that the prevalence of sleep problems increased sharply from 34% in 2010 to 49% in 2021. These issues range from insomnia to nightmares, indicating a growing public health challenge. The study combines self-reported sleep problems with objective data on childhood adversity, showing that social and economic hardships early in life more than double the risk of sleep problems in adulthood. Key risk factors include siblings’ psychiatric illness, parental divorce, and foster care placement. These findings highlight the urgent need for early preventive measures and targeted interventions in sleep health to improve individuals’ quality of life and reduce the societal burden of poor sleep. Sources: Zucco et al. 2025, DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adw1227

Sound Meets Vibration: A Multi-Sensory Wellness Approach  Vibroacoustic sessions — pairing music with low-frequency sound (30–80 Hz) — have been studied for their potential to support comfort and body awareness. In structured environments, these sessions are designed to promote a sense of grounding through rhythmic vibration and sound immersion. Although research has explored this approach in therapeutic contexts, its relevance in general wellness lies in how it may help individuals navigate sensory environments, promote soothing routines, and enhance moments of pause and regulation. This non-invasive sensory experience can offer supportive tools for people seeking calm through a body-based, music-driven format. Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Reference: Lundqvist LO, Andersson G, Viding J. Effects of vibroacoustic music on challenging behaviors in individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 2009; 3(2):390–400. doi: 10.1016/j.rasd.2008.08.005

Chronic mouth breathing can be associated with impaired cognitive function, particularly in children.  1. Disruption of sleep 2. Reduced oxygen to the brain 3. Altered brain activity and connectivity 4. Cognitive and behavioral problems (ADHD like symptoms and learning deficits) "In conclusion, we investigated the effect of oral breathing on functional brain activity. It was confirmed that the functional connection decreased significantly during a working memory task in oral breathing rather than nasal breathing. Furthermore, the functional connections of the left cerebellum, and left and right inferior parietal gyrus appeared only during nasal breathing, but not during oral breathing. According to these results, oral breathing can interfere with the efficient performance of working memory. Therefore, brain areas closely related to working memory function were less active during oral breathing, suggesting that prolonged oral breathing could significantly induce impaired cognitive function together with various well-known side effects on the body. These findings also suggest that any solutions for oral breathing should be considered not only for dental care but also for working memory activity." Healthcare (Basel). 2021 May 29;9(6):645. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9060645 https://lnkd.in/e795h-XB

Most parents (and adults) are now tracking their own sleep, steps and daily health metrics. But how many track their baby’s, where it matters most? That’s the question at the heart of our work at Nanit. A decade ago, Nanit pioneered the Smart Baby Monitor category with the belief that data and AI could help every child thrive from day one. Today, that vision feels more relevant than ever. Parents deserve personalized insights—not generic advice—to understand what’s happening with their child’s sleep, health, and development. Imagine knowing your baby’s cough patterns before illness sets in, or spotting developmental trends long before traditional milestones. This is where technology can make parenting more confident, not more complicated. I sat down with The Information to talk about how we’re turning billions of anonymized sleep data points into meaningful guidance for families everywhere.

Remember when baby monitors were essentially one-way radios? Now, products like Nanit offer sophisticated monitoring and AI-driven insights to detect and learn from every cough, cry, and movement — even spotting potential developmental delays that could lead to early diagnosis of conditions like autism. CEO Anushka Salinas spoke to The Information about how Nanit is transforming the category they pioneered to create the only parenting tech platform you'll ever need, harnessing trends from the confluence of AI advancements and the health wearables movement. Editor Meredith Mazzilli even zoomed in from maternity leave to join us from her own nursery. Now THAT is modern parenting!

IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback works like a gentle flicker of light — guiding the brain toward calm, clarity, and focus. Parents in Conroe, Montgomery, and The Woodlands are discovering real results: better focus, fewer meltdowns, and improved sleep. Learn more at Authentic Brain Solutions — where calm minds grow. Here's a recent blog about the benefits of IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback: https://lnkd.in/gfdzMAzH #ADHDkids #NeurofeedbackTherapy #ConroeMoms #MontgomeryTX #TheWoodlandsTX #ChildTherapy #AuthenticBrainSolutions

 Feeling tired all the time- even after coffee? You’re not alone. Many professionals and parents rely on caffeine to ‘power on through,’ but chronic fatigue isn’t fixed by coffee -it’s a sign your nervous system is overloaded. When you live in a constant state of stimulation; bright lights, notifications, noise, caffeine, your vagus nerve stays switched to fight-or-flight mode, draining your focus and resilience. No amount of caffeine can create calm. It’s really important for us all to know how to: ✅ Recognise early signs of burnout and sensory overload ✅ Understand how caffeine masks nervous system fatigue ✅ Restore balance through breathwork, rest, and environmental calm ✅ Reconnect to real, sustainable energy…not quick fixes For those supporting neurodiverse children (ADHD, autistic), or managing high-stress environments in the work plac,nervous system regulation isn’t a luxury, it’s essential for wellbeing, clarity, and calm. You don’t need to keep running on empty-your body’s just asking for a reset. #Neurodiverse #ParentBurnout #NervousSystemHealth #VagusNerve #CaffeineAnxiety #WorkplaceWellness