Sleep and quality of life in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder during Covid-19 home confinement period

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one of the most common conditions worldwide with a prevalence rate of 1%. The main backbone treatment of ASD such as individualized behavioral and educational therapies were further hampered during this COVID home confinement. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sleep patterns and autism symptoms of children with ASD during covid-19 home confinement period. It’s a cross-sectional design using the following questionnaire Autism Behavior Checklist (AuBC), Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), KINDL^R. The questionnaire about the ASD children’s sleep and quality of life before and during home confinement was collected from their parents via telephone and . Out of 52 children with ASD with age range of 6 to 14 years 40 were boys and 12 were girls. Children with ASD during home confinement had sleep problems, and autism symptom score compared to the normal (non-confinement) state. The mean QOL score for children was 68.2 (out of 100.0) on the KINDL which is decreased compared to normal state. The sleep pattern and ASD symptoms were worsened in the ASD children when forced into house confinement during COVID-19 pandemic. It can be alleviated and may be controlled by medication and psychotherapy interventions, as well as parental education.