Evidence from a Narrative Review of Altered Intervention Methods and Behavioral Goals for Children with ASD in Relation to COVID-19

Abstract

Environmental changes in response to COVID-19 may negatively impact the development, behavior, and mental health of children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, it is necessary to investigate the changed behavioral goals provided.

This narrative review examined studies that investigated changes in intervention methods and behavioral goals for children with ASD during COVID-19. This study searched five databases and identified ten articles meeting the inclusion criteria. These articles were evaluated for risk of bias and quality of evidence level. Behavioral goals and intervention methods were reviewed.

The selected articles included two non-randomized single-group studies, six single-experiment studies, and two case studies. Behavioral goals included mask wearing, social participation and play, and behavioral regulation. Interventions included telehealth, social participation training, play-based sibling intervention, early intensive behavioral, differential reinforcement, and treatment extension for tolerating.

This review identifies the need to change in intervention methods and behavioral goals for children with ASD to adapt to environmental changes due to COVID-19.

Keywords

autism children COVID-19 telehealth neurodevelopmental disorder

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