1. Pediatric patients with autism may have increased brain excitability in the auditory cortex.
2. This increased excitability is associated with poorer sleep quality and disturbances.
3. Research included 42 pediatric patients, 17 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
4. Lower Hurst Exponent values indicated greater excitability and potential sensory hypersensitivity.
5. Children with ASD exhibited longer sleep onset, shorter total sleep time, and lower sleep efficiency.
6. Increased auditory cortex excitability may contribute to sleep problems in all patients.

Source: Sleep