Assessment and Treatment of Behavioral Sleep Problems

This interview with Dr. Brett Kuhn explores behavioral sleep problems in children, with a focus on effective assessment and treatment strategies. Dr. Kuhn highlights the high prevalence of sleep disorders, particularly among children with developmental disabilities, and emphasizes the importance of individualized, behaviorally based interventions. He discusses extinction-based protocols, such as “cry it out” and graduated extinction, as well as multi-component approaches that incorporate sleep-wake scheduling, parental consistency, and sleep onset association adjustments. The conversation underscores the need for tailored strategies that align with family goals while promoting independent sleep behaviors in children.