Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by deficits in social interactions, communication, and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior (Sandberg et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 48:4250–4277, 2018). Also common are chronic sleep disturbances with a prevalence rate of 52–82% as compared to 32–50% found in neurotypical children (Hodge et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 43(4):956–963, 2014; Krakowiak et al. in J Sleep Res 17(2):197–206, 2008; Sandberg et al. in J Autism Dev Disord 48:4250–4277, 2018). A systematic review of the literature utilizing a PRISMA framework was conducted to gain a historical perspective on sleep intervention for this population. The aim of this review was to identify effective approaches to treatment, determine the level of evidence present, and identify promising pathways forward for future treatment and research. Results of the review identified three primary categories of intervention including medication-based, behavioral approaches, and combined intervention packages. Of these, behaviorally based interventions that include a parent coaching component appear to be the most effective and have the potential for long-lasting change. Limitations related to the breadth of search engines used to identify articles, balance in contributions between studies, and inclusion criteria are discussed.
