Andhra Pradesh: Children with autism hit hard during pandemic

VISAKHAPATNAM: The pandemic has posed several challenges for children with autism and their parents. On the occasion of World Autism Week, medical experts STOI interacted with said that behavioural issues and attention deficit have worsened in children due to the pandemic-induced lockdown which had resulted in the closure of special schools.

In one case, 12-year-old Sumanth (name changed) was brought to his therapist in Visakhapatnam, from Srikakulam after a gap of nine months. The therapist observed that the boy had become somewhat violent, had an angry demeanour while his attention span barely lasted a few minutes. This, from having a attention span of around 30 minutes before the pandemic when he would visit the therapist regularly.
Challenges for children with autism were aplenty even before the Covid-19 pandemic as a result of lack of awareness among parents and teachers, an inadequate number of special educators, therapists, and government-funded institutes. Children with autism need various therapists and skill trainers under one roof for proper care and growth.
“Children with autism are averse to any change in routine. The pandemic has restricted their movement, interaction with peer groups and habits. Unlike regular children, they cannot attend online classes and therapy when special schools are shut down. Financial constraints, stress and work burden on parents who cannot devote their entire time to their children have worsened the situation for these children, many of whom now need regular medication and not just behaviour therapy,” said Dr Radhakant , a psychiatrist who runs Vivek — a society that looks after needs of children with mental illnesses and autism.
Doctors have pointed out that children with autism should have the support of behaviour and speech therapists, psychologists, trainers in extra-curricular activities and skill development.
“Self-help skills, social skills, academic skills, occupational and speech-language therapy and vocational training for their rehabilitation and creative engagement are useful for such children,” Dr Radhakant explained.
Autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a form of congenital developmental and neurological disorder, characterised by signs such as impaired social interaction, delayed and deviant speech and communication, restricted, repetitive stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities.