A Randomized, Crossover Trial of a Novel Sound-to-Sleep Mattress Technology in Children with Autism and Sleep Difficulties

Abstract

A future large sample phase 2 trial of the STS system is warranted and would benefit from extended study duration, an objective primary efficacy outcome, and careful attention to methodological issues that promote compliance with the intervention and study procedures.

Sleep patterns predictive of daytime challenging behavior in individuals with low‐functioning autism

“…Direct observations are likely better than retrospective sleep logs (which are confounded by recall bias) or activity-based wrist measures (which are confounded by sleep-state misperception and restlessness during sleep) [Talay-Ongan & Wood, 2000;Veatch et al, 2016], however. In future, the observational sleep data used here could be validated against continuous recordings obtained from actigraphy or PSG, although bed or room sleep sensors may be more appropriate for this group, due to their difficulty tolerating tactile measures due to sensory sensitivities [Frazier et al, 2017;Talay-Ongan & Wood, 2000]. The behavioral measurements used here could also be validated against established scales of behavior, such as the Child Challenging Behavior Scale [Bourke-Taylor, Law, Howie, & Pallant, 2010].…”

Practitioner Review: Treatment of chronic insomnia in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities

“…The use of a weighted blanket was not superior, compared to the control condition, to increase sleep duration or to reduce sleep onset delay and night awakenings. More recently, Frazier et al (2017) in a preliminary, randomized study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of a novel mattress technologythe Sound-To-Sleep systemin the treatment of sleep problems in 45 children with autism, aged 2.5-12.9 years. Satisfactory compliance to this technology was observed and parent-diary outcomes indicated improvements in falling asleep and reduced daytime challenging behavior.…”

Practice guideline: Treatment for insomnia and disrupted sleep behavior in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

“…One randomized crossover trial investigated the use of STS mattress technology in 45 children (2.5-12.9 years old) with ASD and significant sleep difficulties (CSHQ score ≥41). 37 The STS mattress embeds vibrations corresponding to a chosen sound source into the mattress. The study was Class II for actigraphy and Class III for diary results.…”

“…In the STS mattress technology study (Class II for actigraphy), children had higher SE over 2 weeks of using the STS system turned on (78.27%) compared with 2 weeks with the technology off (75.45%) (RMD: 2.82%; 95% CI, 1.14-4.50). 37 Sleep continuity: night awakenings WASO describes the time individuals spend awake after sleep onset and before sleep offset. Night awakenings reference the number of complete awakenings occurring after sleep initiation.…”

“…In the STS mattress technology crossover trial, WASO was not different when measured by actigraphy over 2 weeks (18.79 minutes with technology off, 17.85 minutes with technology on; RMD: −0.94 minutes; 95% CI, −1.912 to 0.032) or sleep diary (off: 0.13 minutes, on: 0.12 minutes; RMD: −0.01 minutes; 95% CI, −0.043 to 0.023). 37 Total sleep time TST refers to sleep duration during a given sleep period time (usually at night). Reduced TST relates to prolonged SOL, night awakenings, and early-morning waking.…”