Better sleep for autistic children with home lighting?

Autistic children spend a lot of time indoors, and a lack of daylight can disrupt their circadian rhythm and impair sleep. This seminar introduces the connection between light and sleep, and how home lighting that slowly mimics dawn and dusk can support routines and well-being. In an ongoing study in southern Sweden, families receive a system that dims the light in the evening and increases it in the morning. Sleep is measured with sensors, and parents report on mood and routines. The seminar presents preliminary results and discusses how a tailored lighting environment may potentially influence sleep and routines for autistic children in daily life. The study is a collaboration between LTH, JTH, and DTU in Denmark.

Niko Gentile, Associate Professor at Lund University Faculty of Engineering (LTH).