FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY, some substantial information/research insight into the nightmare of sleep(lessness) and autism. It's a start. Sleep problems are one of those parts of family life with autism that many parents will tell you is one of the most nightmarish (no pun intended) aspects. Karen went almost 13 years without one - literally, not ONE - solid night of sleep that added up to more than 5 hours (at most, usually less) and even those few hours were interrupted. Sleep deprivation hurts health, both physical and mental, and makes everything much worse. And this was Every. Single. Night. For 13 years.

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2015/body-clock-genes-may-set-pace-for-sleep-issues-in-autism