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How To Manage Autism During The COVID-19 Pandemic
How To Manage Autism During The COVID-19 Pandemic
• Talk about it
• Create a routine
• Summary
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PinterestCreating a daily routine may help autistic children cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, many adults and children are simultaneously working and learning from home.
Adjusting to a new routine such as this can present unique challenges for autistic
individuals and their families.
Many autistic children receive specialized care from health and behavioral specialists
in their community. Children receiving Early Intensive Behavioral InterventionTrusted
Source rely on in-person, small-group interactions.
Schools and teachers provide yet another essential support network for autistic
children. However, school closures mean that children have severely restricted
access to vital educational services.
Autistic children may not understand why their daily routine is changing, which may
lead to stress, frustration, or anxiety. These emotional triggers can exacerbate the
effects of autism and may lead to more severe behavioral and communication
problems.
Parents and caregivers may find themselves struggling to balance their professional
and household responsibilities while supporting their children during these uncertain
times.
The following sections provide some tips on how to manage autism during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
If a child asks about the pandemic, try to use clear, direct explanations and avoid
unnecessary details that could confuse or scare them.
A simple explanation of the COVID-19 pandemic might look something like this: “The
coronavirus is a new type of germ that can make people can sick. We need to keep
ourselves and others healthy by staying at home.”
Parents and caregivers can expand this explanation to include how other activities,
such as family vacations and weekend outings, will be on hold for a little while. Let
them know that they will continue doing their school work from home.
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According to the Autism Society, parents and caregivers should reward flexibility.
Allowing extra time to accommodate small changes may help prevent a person from
feeling overwhelmed.
It is also important that people set aside some time for physical activities. In a 2019
review articleTrusted Source, researchers evaluated findings from eight studies that
focused on the effects of exercise on ASD in children under the age of 16.
The researchers found that autistic children who exercised three times per week
showed significant reductions in repetitive and aggressive behaviors. The researchers
explain that these behavioral improvements may last for at least 2 hours after
exercising.
Create a calm environment
Creating a calm environment can help prevent outbursts, repetitive behaviors, and
stress.
• Try limiting unnecessary background noises. This means turning off the
television and other electronics during school time.
• Keep the house tidy. Parents and caregivers can even make tidying a family
activity. Block out some time in the evening for cleaning up communal spaces,
putting away toys, and washing the dishes.
• Avoid unnecessary stress. Consider taking a break from reading, watching, or
listening to the news.
• Try incorporating relaxing activities into the family’s routine. These include
deep breathing, yoga, reading, and listening to calming music.
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For example, doctors may prescribe medications that address aggressive, repetitive,
or hyperactive behaviors. Autistic individuals who also experience symptoms of
mental health conditions may benefit from antianxiety medications or
antidepressants.
Behavioral and education interventions focus on building life skills and promoting
independence. These types of intervention teach people essential language and
communication skills.
Behavioral therapy involves strategies for managing repetitive, aggressive, and other
behaviors.
Parents and caregivers of autistic individuals should stay in contact with their
primary care physician. The physician can perform health and wellness evaluations
via video chat services. They can also provide effective support recommendations
and behavioral intervention strategies.
People should also contact a healthcare provider if they or someone they live with
develops symptoms of COVID-19. According to the CDCTrusted Source, the most
common symptoms are a cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
People with at least two of the following symptoms may also have COVID-19:
• a sore throat
• a headache
• a fever
• chills
• repeated shaking with chills
• muscle pain
• a new loss of taste or smell
According to the CDCTrusted Source, children usually develop milder symptoms than
adults. Children with COVID-19 may experience:
• a fever
• a runny nose
• a cough
• vomiting
• diarrhea
Summary
Individuals and families continue to face disruptions in their daily routines as the
COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Autistic people and their families may be facing many new challenges at this time.
People can manage the effects of autism during the COVID-19 pandemic by building
a new daily routine, creating a calm environment, and staying in contact with their
healthcare providers.
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• Autism
• Public Health
• Respiratory
• Flu / Cold / SARS
• Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
• COVID-19
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FEEDBACK:
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Jamie Eske — Updated on
November 2, 2021
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