ASD child and excessive napping every day has anyone been through similar ??

[Excessivenapping]

Ds is 5. Diagnosed with ASD at 3 and on the list for an ADHD assessment as well.

The huge issue is naps. If he goes to school he can only do a half day as falls asleep and can’t be woken so he’s on a part time timetable to factor in a planned nap and manage it better. If we go to a different shop he falls asleep after, if something unexpected happens , falls asleep . Basically it’s as if his mind shuts down at one point I was worried he had narcolepsy.

All tests are normal he’s not got any health issues and has had EEG etc and it’s all totally normal. We’ve been told it’s his way of processing everything but it’s having such a huge impact as he can sleep all night then be up for an hour and if something is different or new he just falls asleep !!!

Has anyone else experienced this with a child with ASD? Does it get better ??

Hypersomnia

NAS says the same as your GP, it's when they process the stimulation.

I was going to say this could be a result of sensory overload. Shutting down as opposed to melting down.

I’m just worried as it doesn’t seem to be getting better and there is so little support post diagnosis that I don’t even know if there is therapy possible that could help with it. I think I’m hoping it just gets better with time but it’s hard to navigate day to day as it’s become such an issue

I was going to say sensory overload and it's a coping mechanism. How is he when not in at school or busy places or doing new things?

Mine passes out when they get too overwhelmed

I have this and have ADHD.

You can get sleep therapy, I've had 2 courses.
Basically I've been told not to fight it and to sleep when I need to. There's lots of stuff about getting a better night's sleep so you're less likely to do it though.

The things that work best for me are lavender around my bed and cherries before bedtime!
We were told not to do the magnesium supplement thing as it's unproven.

Start keeping a sleep diary because it will be the first thing they ask you!

It’s overload. I’m autistic and when I do something mentally stimulating, I need a nap after!

Sounds like sensory overload.

My kids go to the toilet. Your child takes a nap.

School and you need to work out some ways of managing the sensory load during the morning so he can attend for longer.

Or. You accept this is the way it is.

He isn't broken. Just different.

But you know that.

He is lucky to have you to support him and notice all of this and to worry about it.

Has he been seen by the Ed psych? Or the school SALT? Perhaps they can make suggestions to make school less overwhelming?

In the meantime. Remember you are a fabulous mum and he is a wonderful child.

x

Yes! Your LO is the same as my daughter. We moved her to private school and she has a lot more energy now she’s in smaller classes.

But he is only 5, there are so many things that are overstimulating to all 5 year olds, I wouldn't really be expecting things to improve maybe by 8.

Does it negatively impact your day? Are you unable to get on ok n which case a disabled child pushchair with a recline option maybe useful. So he can nap on the go.