Autistic Children and COVID-19
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most significant and severe neurodevelopmental disorders. Autism, or ASD, refers to a wide range of conditions characterized by challenges in social skills, repetitive behaviors, and impairments in both verbal and non-verbal communication. According to a 2018 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of ASD in the United States is about 1 in 59 children. Autism is about four times more common in boys than in girls and occurs across all racial, religious, social, and economic groups. Symptoms usually appear in early childhood development, with almost all parents noticing them within the first two years of their child’s life, which is also around the typical age of diagnosis. ASD is often accompanied by sensory difficulties, medical conditions such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, or sleep disturbances, as well as psychological disorders like anxiety, depression, attention difficulties, and intellectual disabilities in many autistic children.
Because autism is a spectrum disorder, every individual with ASD has a unique set of strengths and challenges. Some people with autism may need significant support in their daily lives, while others may require less support and, in some cases, may live entirely independently. Nevertheless, families of children with ASD face many difficulties and challenges. What made matters worse was the global spread of COVID-19, which brought life to a standstill for quite some time and led to the suspension of services provided by specialized centers that support autistic children and others with special needs. The suspension of these services had a more significant negative impact on autistic children, placing families and professionals alike in front of new types of challenges.
For example, how can I get my autistic child—who rejects touch and is sensitive to clothing—to wear a mask or gloves? How can I teach him to wash his hands regularly? How do I encourage him to use a hand sanitizer without constant reminders?
In this article, we provide scientific strategies based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to address these challenges.
