Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Pan-Canadian Perspectives From Parents and Caregivers of Youth With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.
Ash Seth, Brittany Finlay, Genevieve Currie and 8 others
PMID 36639341WHAT IT FOUND
Parents and caregivers of youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities described canceled therapies and school closures.
They said their children regressed, showed anxiety, and families felt strained. Many found virtual therapies less helpful than in-person care.
Key findings
01Parents described canceled therapeutic services and said their children regressed and showed worsening behavior.
02Parents reported that virtual therapies were less helpful than in-person therapy for children's developmental outcomes.
03Parents described limited supports after school reopening and restrictions on comforting routines, and said students experienced anxiety and anger.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included 40 caregivers, mostly women, and had limited representation from Atlantic provinces, territories, and Francophone families. It did not examine intersectional issues such as Indigenous status in depth. It reports caregivers' experiences and themes, not measured effects of any service model.
Declared interests
The authors acknowledged funding support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Kids Brain Health Network. No other conflict-of-interest statement is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that virtual therapy is ineffective for all children. The study reports caregivers' experiences and did not compare virtual and in-person therapy outcomes.