Journal Article

COVID-19 Pandemic and Impact on Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Brown, Sierra L, Murray, Michael J, Edwards, Erin M, Raman, Baweja

2022

Overview

The COVID-19 infectious disease pandemic has caused significant fear and uncertainty around the world and had significant adverse psychological impact. Children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are a particularly vulnerable population, impacted by stay-at-home orders, closures at nonessential services, and social distancing standards. This commentary describes various challenges faced by individuals with ASD in the United States including disruptions caused by educational and vocational changes, challenges to home and leisure routines, limited access to behavioral health services and changes in health services delivery due to the pandemic. We highlight the need for ongoing skills development for individuals and development within systems to better respond to needs of the ASD population in future emergencies.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adolescents / Adults / Anxiety Disorders / Autism / Autism Spectrum Disorders / Autistic adolescents / Autistic adults / Autistic children / Behavior change / Caregivers / Communicable Diseases / Communication Skills / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Demographic change / Developmental Disabilities / Emergencies / Family (Sociological Unit) / Fear / Health behavior / Health care delivery / Health services / Infectious diseases / Leisure / Mental Health / Mental health services / Pandemics / Patients / Physical Disabilities / Posttraumatic Stress Disorder / Receptive Language / Resilience (Psychology) / Skill development / Teenagers / Uncertainty / Vulnerability