| One of the problems parents have to deal with when | | | | to be the natural, it is the most preferred since it helps |
| it comes to their children who have the autism disorder | | | | facilitate proper sleeping habits internally rather than |
| is the insomnia they often suffer from. Autistic | | | | external (as with the use of weighted blankets or |
| children-and, in turn, their parents-have to deal with a | | | | white noise). But how can melatonin help, exactly? And |
| lot. For instance, children with autism often suffer from | | | | how come the substance is specific? |
| diarrhea or loose bowels. Children from autism are | | | | Melatonin is a form of antioxidant, a substance many |
| often easily agitated due to their over sensitive to a | | | | say is stronger than Vitamin C or E. it is produced by |
| number of things. And then there's insomnia. Although | | | | the melatonin receptors in the body, although it can |
| not all autistic children suffer from this, a significant | | | | also be acquired from numerous food substances and |
| number of autistic individuals do have a hard time trying | | | | supplements. Melatonin has long been used as a |
| to fall asleep. Of course, as with any healthy person, | | | | means to treat sleeping disorders-and not just for |
| insomnia always poses as a problem. Lack of sleep | | | | individuals with autism. However, in case of use for |
| can cause a lot of complications. This is true more so | | | | autistic individuals, the effectiveness is more |
| with children with autism. | | | | pronounced. Why? |
| Now, there are many suggested ways to deal with | | | | Simple: because as studies have proven, individuals |
| insomnia among children with autism. For one, many | | | | with autism have low antioxidant count in their body. |
| are encouraged to give their children weighted | | | | Antioxidants play an important role in the protection of |
| blankets to add some weight to the usual fabric. The | | | | the body against harmful free radicals and chemicals |
| pressure provided by the addition weight can actually | | | | produced by taking in certain food substances. In any |
| calm an individual, allowing him or her to easily relax | | | | case, a significant number of children with autism have |
| and, consequently, sleep. Ideally, the weight to be | | | | low counts of melatonin. Although that may not |
| added should 10 percent of the person's total body | | | | necessarily be the cause of insomnia among autism |
| weight. Another trick: white noise. White noise is a | | | | patients, it is perhaps one of the triggering reasons |
| sound that contains equal frequencies. It is a | | | | why autistic children find it harder to cope with sleeping |
| monotonous stream of peaceful sound that can help | | | | problems. |
| distract the child of any other sound beyond the white | | | | The fact of low levels of melatonin in an autistic child's |
| noise (this is especially helpful for people with over | | | | body doesn't necessarily mean that this occurrence is |
| sensitive hearing). Lastly, the most obvious step? | | | | unique. However, since it has bee proven that |
| Heavy activities during the day. This way, the child can | | | | melatonin can help people with sleeping disorder, this |
| easily be induced to sleep since it allows him to calm | | | | strong antioxidant should prove to be helpful |
| down at night's time (since all the energy is spent | | | | regardless. A melatonin therapy is a good way of |
| during the day). | | | | solving the sleeping problems of children with this brain |
| But there is another step: the intake of melatonin. | | | | development disorder. |
| Although the intake of this substance may not seem | | | | |