Evaluating motion detection to score sleep disturbance for children: A translational approach to developing a measurement system

• Published in: Journal of applied behavior analysis Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 580 - 599
• Main Authors: Lesser, Aaron D., Luczynski, Kevin C., Hood, Stephanie A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-05-2019; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Accuracy; Autism; autism spectrum disorder; Children & youth; direct observation; in‐home video recording; Monitoring systems; motion detection; Sleep; Sleep disorders; sleep disturbance; telehealth; Telemedicine; direct observation; sleep disturbance; autism spectrum disorder; motion detection; telehealth; in-home video recording
• ISSN: 0021-8855; 1938-3703
• DOI: 10.1002/jaba.531

Information obtained via direct observation of children's sleep disturbance throughout the night in their home can guide the assessment and treatment process, but watching live or via recorded video might be impractical in terms of time expenditures. In Experiment 1, we assessed the accuracy and reliability of a motion‐detection camera with human motor movements. In Experiment 2, we tested the system's generality by using it to obtain in‐home measures of sleep disturbance for three children with autism spectrum disorder and compared the accuracy to a continuous measurement system. We also measured scoring efficiency and assessed parents' acceptability of the camera. Results provide preliminary support for motion detection in measuring sleep disturbance, but further evaluation of motion detection to improve accuracy is warranted.