COVID-19 pandemic Effects and after effects on people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and their Families

COVID-19 has disrupted everyday life worldwide and is the first disease event since the 1918 H1N1 Spanish influenza (flu) pandemic. The extensive damage wreaked by historical pandemics on health, economy, and society was a function of pathogen characteristics and lack of public health resources. In particular this pandemic has worsened neurodevelopmental disorders ADHD, ASD,IDD with an increase in MH, Psychosocial consequences in children and parents.Many of the NDDs are illnesses of life span and require multiple supportive, life enhancing interventions.COVID Pandemic increased phobias,anxiety,clinginess, distraction, irritability, depression, mood lability, impaired social interaction, sleep disturbances, low self-esteem, substance use disorder, and suicide. In India,USA and around the globe Parents and caregivers are experiencing much turmoil. They are increasingly burdened by the changing nature of caring for their children and other family members. May cause caregivers to experience intense distress, anxiety, loneliness, agitation,depression, social withdrawal and other challenging behaviors. There is evidence that there is a higher risk for those residing in residential group homes.Parents are finding themselves simultaneously expected to play the role of parent, special education teacher, and individual aide, all the while having to provide care for other children in the home and juggle work-from-home. children with NDD and families need evaluations, treatments and supports by professionals, as the ongoing pandemic can exacerbate the current challenges and provide ways of handling, coping.Also focus on identification of long-term control strategies that balance consideration of health in at risk populations, societal behavior, and economic impact. ANCIPS 2022