Impacto del covid-19 en el desarrollo y comportamiento de cinco niños con trastorno de espectro autista. un análisis comparativo pre y post pandemia basado en una serie de casos

Abstract

Antecedents: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience change in routine as a significant challenge. The need to adapt during the COVID-19 health emergency may have caused changes in different areas, as other activities within the home entirely replaced their routines were . This report aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the development and behavior of five children with autism spectrum disorder through a comparative study before and after the pandemic, based on various cases.

Case reports: The participants in this study are five children diagnosed with ASD by a multidisciplinary team: neurologist, early motor stimulator, clinical psychologist, speech therapist, and audiologist, supported by a solid base of the DSM-V criteria in any of its different degrees of condition whose age ranges between 2-7 years old, from 3 centers for neurodevelopmental disorders located in the city of Cuenca – Ecuador.

For the structured interview, the sample comprised four females and one male —the primary caregivers of each child—. Regarding age, 80% of the participants had an age range of 24-26 years old. The variables measured were emotional reactions, anxious and depressed behaviors, somatic complications, antisocial behaviors, and sleeping problems. The Child Behavior Checklist instrument was used, with sensitivity and specificity reaching 90%, with a Likert rating scale as part of the research method.

Conclusions: The impact of COVID-19 on the development and behavior of five early-age children with autism has been significant. It has been identified that the somatic variable occupies a considerable clinical range.