Sleep disorders in Intellectual Disability; a brief narrative review

Abstract

Adults with intellectual disability are more likely to experience sleep disorders and disordered sleep, which not only adversely affects their mental and physical health, but also the health and wellbeing of their carers. Despite this, there are neither recommended assessment nor treatment guidelines for this population. In this brief narrative review, we summarise what is known about diagnosing and managing sleep disorders in adults with intellectual disability, share our clinical experience, and highlight the need for further research.