This study is for children with autism ages 5-10 years old with sleep problems. This is primarily a feasibility and acceptability study - meaning that we are trying to determine if a sleep monitoring device is accurate, if it works well for families such as yours, and if it has potential as a clinical tool to identify intervention targets. The tool is a camera that detects sleep versus wake states. The camera pairs with a mobile app that you will have access to, so the data is shared with you in real time and can be accessed later. You can also share this data with your PCP. We’ll be comparing the camera to a sleep monitoring watch. After 2 questionnaires to screen for autism and sleep problems, the study has 3 basic components: an online questionnaire battery which should take about 40 minutes, using the camera and the watch together for 7 days, and an hour interview with me to discuss your thoughts on the devices and also share what you would like to see done in research regarding sleep problems in children with autism. There is compensation for each component of this project: $20 for completing the questionnaires, $120 for the week-long sleep assessment, and $60 for the interview. The total compensation is up to $200. We can ship all materials to you and return shipping materials and once the camera and watch are set up, you can pretty much just leave them and they will begin collecting data. If your child doesn’t want to wear the sleep monitoring watch all day, it can be put on at night before bed. FLYER
Please let me know if I can provide you with any additional information. If this sounds like something you would be interested in or you would like to discuss over the phone, please feel free to call me at 207-294-2730. We will be recruiting until the end of May, 2023.
Thank you very much for your time and best wishes!
Bree Taylor
Research Assistant Professor
Psychology Department
Life Sciences and Medical Research
The Roux Institute at Northeastern University