The Impact of COVID-19 on Children and Adolescents with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Their Families
摘要
This chapter examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND). A significant body of research has focused on school-age children because virtual learning was a major disruption. This chapter has three main aims: (1) to describe pandemic-related disruptions that were challenging for children and adolescents with ND and their families; (2) to evaluate how those disruptions were implicated in the academic, social, health, and mental outcomes of youth with ND and their families; and (3) to suggest future directions for research and practice. The findings from this body of research underscore the complex and multifaceted impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with ND. The pandemic has disrupted many aspects of their lives, including academic achievement, health behaviors, mental health, peer relations, and family dynamics. Although most studies suggest that ND youth experienced more significant declines in functioning compared to their neurotypical peers, evidence also reveals a heterogeneous picture with adaptations and resilience emerging in certain contexts.