Researchers from the University of East Anglia in Britain have discovered that an infant's sleep patterns can serve as an early indicator of the risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study involved 44 infants aged 8 to 11 months, some of whom had siblings with autism. The scientists focused on five key sleep-related traits linked to autism: light sleep, difficulty falling into deep sleep in noisy environments, continued brain activity upon hearing sounds, shallow sleep even in complete silence, and sensory sensitivity. During two daytime naps, the infants' brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) caps. As reported by the Daily Mail, while a child's sleep has always been a sign of their general health, this new study shows that monitoring an infant's sleep patterns can reveal early signs of a potential ASD diagnosis.
