Impact of social isolation by COVID-19 on children with autism spectrum disorders and their families in the province of Misiones

Abstract

NTRODUCTION: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by alterations in communication and restrictive behavior patterns. The Social, Preventive and Compulsory Isolation in Argentina changed family dynamics of people with ASD. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of isolation on accompanying children with ASD. METHODS: A specific instrument of mixed design was created by conducting virtual surveys to relatives of ASD children. RESULTS: The 66 surveys included in the study revealed advantages, such as the possibility of sharing family time and recognizing children’s needs, environment with adequate stimuli and without distractors as well as teaching according to learning pace and content adjusted to ASD children. They also found difficulties in socialization: emergence of non-adaptive behaviors (crisis, anxiety, aggressiveness), communication barriers between teachers and families, therapy inaccessibility and obstacles to access to online therapies. DISCUSSION: The isolation affected ASD people’s daily life, similarly as in other countries. Based on the experiences during the isolation, strategies are proposed within the framework of the current pandemic situation and for potential similar scenarios.