Effect of Covid-19 lockdown on indian children with autism.
Ramandeep Kaur, Tamanna Boobna, Praseena Kallingal
PMID 35367807WHAT IT FOUND
Parents reported that children with autism regressed across daily living, language, behaviour, school and online therapy during the Indian lockdown.
School performance showed the largest drop. The authors suggest preparing home-based and parent-led plans for future closures.
Key findings
01Parents reported regression across all five developmental areas after the lockdown, with school performance showing the largest decline.
02The study relied on parent ratings of children's performance before and after lockdown, verified informally against assessment reports.
03Online therapy was difficult for children with autism, though it helped parents learn strategies and gain control.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study is based only on ratings provided by parents and does not measure the responses by professionals in detail. The study included a small sample size. The educational background of parents, availability of therapy materials or experience of parents in training their children were not taken into consideration. The study is based on a cross-sectional survey design using non-probability sampling.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the reported regression as evidence that lockdown caused the decline. The study compares parent ratings before and after the event without a control group, so natural development or changes in parent perception cannot be separated from the lockdown's effect.