Abstract：
Sleep disorders represent a common comorbidity among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder with prevalence ranging from 50 to 80%. Poor quality sleep has negative impact on individuals\' cognitive functions such as self-regulation, attention, executive functions, memory, and speed of processing. The aim of this literature review was to examine the correlation between sleep and measures of attention, executive functions, and processing speed among children with autism. This review included research articles published between 2012 and May 2022 in PubMed and Scopus databases, using the keywords \"sleep\" AND \"attention\" OR \"executive functions\" OR \"processing speed\" AND \"autism\" AND \"children\". These key-words were accompanied by synonym, close-related, or underlying terms using the Boolean connector OR. 1226 results yielded but the total number of original papers was reduced to 90 after checking for duplicate publications and title/abstract screening. 68 out of the 90 articles were excluded as irrelevant to the scope of the present study, after reading the full text. As a result, 22 studies were included in the present review, which was compiled by the PRISMA protocol. Exclusion criteria were papers published in any other language rather than English, non-research articles and studies in typically developing and/or adult population. Regarding the measurement of sleep quality, most studies used subjective measures, such as questionnaires with reports and parental observations of participants\' sleep habits and behaviours. In terms of measuring the under examination cognitive functions, most studies used subjective rather than objective instruments. In the case of attention, most studies tested it as a unitary construct by using questionnaires. Contrary, regarding Executive Functions, the majority of studies examined specific aspects, such inhibition, shifting and working memory, rather than executive functions as a unitary construct. Results showed a strong correlation between sleep and measures of attention, whereas results for executive functions and processing speed are less clear. Early and accurate diagnosis of sleep disorders could prove to be crucial in the regulation of these cognitive functions in children with autism, as it implies early and targeted intervention. Conclusively, further research on sleep quality improvement interventions is needed in autism individuals.
摘要：
睡眠障碍是自闭症谱系障碍儿童和青少年中的常见合并症，患病率为50％至80％。睡眠质量差对个体的认知功能如自我调节有负面影响，注意,执行功能，记忆,和处理速度。这篇文献综述的目的是研究睡眠和注意力测量之间的相关性，执行功能，和自闭症儿童的处理速度。这篇综述包括2012年至2022年5月在PubMed和Scopus数据库中发表的研究文章。使用关键字\"睡眠\"和\"注意\"或\"执行功能\"或\"处理速度\"和\"自闭症\"和\"儿童\"。这些关键词伴随着同义词，密切相关,或使用布尔连接器OR的基础术语。产生了1226个结果，但在检查重复出版物和标题/摘要筛选后，原始论文的总数减少到90。90篇文章中有68篇被排除在外，因为这与本研究的范围无关，阅读全文后。因此,本综述包括22项研究，是由PRISMA协议编制的.排除标准是以任何其他语言而不是英语发表的论文，非研究文章和研究在典型的发展和/或成人人口。关于睡眠质量的测量，大多数研究使用主观测量，如问卷调查报告和父母观察参与者的睡眠习惯和行为。在测量被检查的认知功能方面，大多数研究使用主观而不是客观的工具。在注意的情况下，大多数研究通过问卷测试它作为一个单一的结构。相反，关于执行职能，大多数研究检查了特定方面，这种抑制作用，移位和工作记忆，而不是作为单一结构的执行功能。结果显示睡眠和注意力之间有很强的相关性，而执行功能和处理速度的结果不太清楚。睡眠障碍的早期和准确诊断可能被证明对自闭症儿童这些认知功能的调节至关重要，因为这意味着早期和有针对性的干预。最后，需要进一步研究自闭症患者的睡眠质量改善干预措施.
