Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Autistic children 3 times more likely to report negative changes during pandemic: Study

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Feb 2022 11:41
4 Min Read

This can be attributed to the difficulty autistic children face in adapting.

  • x
  • Children on the spectrum will likely need very specific or additional treatment
    Children on the spectrum will likely need very specific or additional treatment

As COVID-19 spread wildly, it forced schools in the US to change their routines and eventually close, thus creating the dilemma of in-person learning vs. virtual learning. In this respect, new research showed that children with autism suffered greatly. 

Researchers from the Kessler Foundation surveyed parents of children, aged 4-15, from May to August 2020 to understand what negative consequences children suffered from pandemic-related school closures. They specifically looked at children with autism and those without, referred to as neurotypical children. 

Overall, parents of children with autism were three times more likely to report negative changes in their children compared to parents of neurotypical children. 

Among the concerns cited by parents of autistic children were hygiene, behavioral regression, therapy disruption, meltdowns, and returning to school. This finding led researchers to assert that autistic children are at a greater risk for negative outcomes due to emergency-related school disruptions. 

Children with autism can carry a broad range of conditions, characterized mainly by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 1 in 44 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and it occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.  

The CDC lists many examples of what a child with ASD might do, from avoiding eye contact and wanting to be alone to repeating or echoing words or phrases in place of normal language, not to mention demonstrating obsessive-compulsive behavior. They may also have trouble adapting when their routine changes and can have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound. 

As more and more schools closed due to COVID-19, that resulted in shutting down many facilities of special education services, speech and language therapy, physical and occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis, especially for younger children. This marked a huge change to autistic children’s affinity to routines. 

Related News

Reuters: US CDC to study vaccine-autism link

Stranger gives autistic boy a $15,000 piano after hearing him play

As a result of pandemic-related closures, researchers from Kessler found that nearly 26% of parents in their study reported their autistic children experienced toileting issues, about 61% reported “meltdowns”, and about 79% reported their child’s therapies were disrupted. 

About 65% of parents also reported an increase in repetitive or unusual movements or noises by their autistic child, while 46% said their child became aggressive with family members. 

Notably, almost 63% of parents were concerned their autistic children’s behavior was regressing and 57% felt their children were less prepared to return to school. About 53% said their child experienced being left out of virtual social situations. 

Researchers explained that many of the aforementioned behaviors observed in autistic children could have been developed as coping mechanisms to deal with the anxiety triggered by the disruption to school routines. 

That’s important, as Helen Genova, one of the authors of the study from Kessler, told Changing America in an emailed statement that, “children on the spectrum will likely need very specific or additional treatment and consideration to get them to the same level as their peers.” 

That’s consistent with guidance issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which has said the impact of the loss of instructional time and related services is significant for students with disabilities.  

“These students may have more difficulty with the social and emotional aspects of transitioning out of and back into the school setting because of the pandemic,” said AAP. 

Kessler researchers recommended that schools directly address ways that autistic children can “catch up” to their peers following pandemic-related school closures, arguing that it’s unacceptable for an entire generation of autistic children to continue to struggle with education goals compared to their peers. 

  • Autism
  • Autistic
  • CDC
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • ASD
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • AAP

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS