The interface between sensory integration and sleep quality in children with developmental disorders.

ABSTRACT Jolanta Petkevičiūtė. The interface between sensory integration and sleep quality in children with developmental disorders. Master‘s thesis. Supervisor Prof. Audronė Prasauskienė; Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medical Academy, Faculty of Nursing, Clinic of Rehabilitation. Kaunas, 2020; 63 p. Aim of thesis. Investigate the association between sensory integration and sleep quality in children with developmental disabilities. Tasks: 1. Evaluate sensory integration disorders in children with developmental disorders; 2. Evaluate the quality and duration of sleep in children with development disorders; 3. To determine the links between sensory integration disorders and the factors that influence sleep quality. Methodology. A one-moment research was conducted using the study author's questionnaire, the “Sensory Profile” test and the “Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire”. The author’s questionnaire was used to collect general data of the child and his/her sleep duration. The \"Sensory Profile\" test was used to find out the child's response to different sensory integration stimuli. \"Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire\" used to find out children's sleep habits and the factors that influence sleep quality. Participants. The study included 69 parents of children with developmental disabilities. The children were between 3 and 7 years old. Conclusion. 1. Children with developmental disabilities experience sensory integration problems. The most common disorders are hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity reactions to stimuli of auditory, visual, tactile, proprioceptive, vestibular and taste systems; 2. The average sleep time of children with developmental disabilities is insufficient (9.84 ± 1.57 hours) on weekdays and sufficient sleep (10.88 ± 1.44 hours) on weekends. There was a statistically significant difference between average sleep times on weekdays and weekends. All the children in the study had difficulty sleeping. Sleep in the evening, fear of being alone and in the dark, snoring, talking during sleep, gnashing of teeth, frequent night-time wakefulness, restless sleep are the main factors affecting sleep quality; 3. Sensory integration disorders in children with developmental disabilities are associated with factors affecting sleep quality. Statistically significant associations were found in all groups of children with developmental disabilities between hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli and seven determinants of sleep quality