The speech disorder in AS has a somewhat typical evolution. Babies and young infants cry less often and have decreased cooing and babbling. By 3 years of age, higher functioning AS children are initiating some type of non-verbal language. Some point to body parts and indicate some of their needs by use of simple gestures, but they are much better at following and understanding commands. Others, especially those with severe seizures or extreme hyperactivity cannot be attentive enough to achieve the first stages of communication, such as establishing sustained eye contact.
Many families construct safe but confining bedrooms to accommodate disruptive nighttime wakefulness.
Recently, administration of 0.3 mg melatonin one hour before bed time, has been shown to be of help in some children but should not be given in the middle of the night if the child awakens. Nevertheless, most AS infants and children do not receive sleep medications and those who do usually do not require long term use. Feeding Problems and Oral-motor Behaviors Feeding problems, are frequent but not generally severe and usually manifest early as difficulty in sucking or swallowing. Tongue movements may be uncoordinated with thrusting and generalized oral-motor incoordination. There may be trouble initiating sucking and sustaining breast feeding, and bottle feeding may prove easier.