The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children With Special Needs: A Descriptive Study

METE YEŞİL A., Sencan B., ÖMERCİOĞLU E., ÖZMERT E. N.

CLINICAL PEDIATRICS, cilt.61, sa.2, ss.141-149, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 61 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/00099228211050223
  • Dergi Adı: CLINICAL PEDIATRICS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.141-149
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: SARS CoV-2, autism spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, language delay, global development delay, challenges
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, children with special needs may have challenges. To determine emotional and behavioral challenges, 116 children aged 4 to 6 years, who received special education, were evaluated. COVID-19 negatively affected the families at a rate of 94.6%; 76.5% of the children's daily routines were worsened. Although the one-on-one time duration with the mother and father increased (73.5% and 66.7%), reading books (40.6%), play (17.2%), and overall activity durations (25.7%) decreased. The median screen time increased from 1 to 3 hours. According to the families, there was a regression in development in 18.8% of children. Special education practices at home were ceased by 17.2% of families, and a significant difference was found between the groups with and without regression in development in terms of the frequency of continuing special education at home. The development of children with special needs is an ongoing urgent situation; thus, besides protecting and promoting physical health during the pandemic, families and children should also be supported for developmental needs.