PEDIATRIC SLEEP DISORDERS: ASK THE EXPERTS

PROUDLY PRESENTING A DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER, DR. ALLISON CLARKE

Pediatric Subcommittee:

Irina Trosman, MD

Anna Ivanenko, MD, PhD

Date: Friday, December 6th, 2024

Location: Zoom Virtual Event

Time: 12 PM Central Time

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Allison Clarke, PhD

Title: Sleep in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Learning objectives:

1. Learn about sleep challenges amongst children with autism spectrum disorder

2. Review behavioral approaches to sleep disorders in this population

3. Consider best practices for desensitization and preparation for overnight sleep study

4. Discuss collaborative treatment approaches

5. Review and discuss specific cases and challenges

Virtual invite coming soon. Looking forward to seeing you!!

Allison Clarke, PhD is a child clinical psychologist and sleep specialist, providing clinical care and conducting clinical research focused on behavioral strategies to improve child and adolescent sleep. She completed her doctoral training at Northwestern University where her research focused on interventions for adolescent anxiety and depression. Subsequently, Dr. Clarke completed her pediatric psychology internship at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC, specializing in clinical care for youth with acute and chronic illnesses. She continued her training as a postdoctoral fellow at La Rabida Children’s Hospital in Hyde Park. Dr. Clarke fell in love with behavioral sleep medicine as she recognized the significant impacts that sleep improvements had on overall functioning and mental health. Since graduating in 2015, Dr. Clarke has worked at Advocate Children’s Hospital and, for the past 5 years, Lurie Children’s Hospital, where she helps children and their parents to address sleep concerns, including: difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, delayed sleep-wake schedules, PAP desensitization, and nightmares/bedtime fears. Dr. Clarke has observed the overwhelming need for novel approaches to sleep challenges among children with autism spectrum disorders and continues to collaborate with other behavioral sleep medicine providers in advancing clinical practices in this area.

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