Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sensory Challenges in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study
Ritu Majumdar, Jyoti Agarwal, Shikha Bhatnagar Bhardwaj, Pooja Rani, Sonal Chauhan, Ravi Kumar PreenjaAbstract
Aim and Objective:
This study aimed to find out the proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) whose sensory challenges improved, remained unchanged or deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the relation between changes in sensory issues with social factors such as family’s income, structure, education and other environmental factors.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was done in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, from February 2021 to February 2022. Mothers of 100 follow-up diagnosed cases of children with ASD in the age group of 3–10 years were provided with a 30-item parent interview questionnaire on various sensory issues faced by children.
Results:
Out of 100 children, in 23%, there was an improvement in sensory symptoms, in 48% sensory symptoms remained the same and in 29%, there was deterioration in sensory symptoms.
Conclusion:
A significant difference in sensory challenges of children in the improvement group and deterioration group was found in Kuppuswamy socioeconomic Class I and children taking some form of education before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.