Coronavirus Pandemic Affects Autistic Children

Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. It is a spectrum disorder that impacts the nervous system. It is challenging for autistic children to communicate and have social interactions because they have obsessive interests and repetitive behaviors. Autistic individuals have their own distinct set of strengths and challenges, so they need all the support they can get. Autism affects one-of-54 kids in the United States.

Negatives of the Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic affected everyone in a negative way. Schools being closed for over a year affected the way autistic children adapt and learn. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience changing routines as a major challenge. The need for adaptation, due to the pandemic, caused major problems to families with autistic children. Certain autistic children could not adapt to the changes. A questionnaire was given to some of the parents. Out of 99 questionnaires, 43 were related to children with ASD and 56 were to the control group. Children with autism had a large change in behavior while the children from the control group mostly found no changes. The parents with ASD children reported a negative impact in emotion management, had higher levels of anxiety, and could not maintain their normal routines. Not being in school made it challenging for ASD children to learn normally. Autistic children need to be with their teachers in person, especially those without proper technology and direct communication with their teachers. This not only affected ASD children, but also affected their parents.

Solutions

Children with ASD need all the help they can get. Missing out on almost two years of school negatively impacted them. It is important for schools to open up immediately so everyone can get the best education possible. Schools should be open for students with disabilities because they are the ones that need it most.

References

“What Is Autism?” Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks Inc., www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism. Accessed 6 June 2021.

Amorim, R., et al. “The Impact of COVID-19 on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” PubMed.Gov, 16 Oct. 2020, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33034366.

“Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Mar. 2021, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html.