TELECONSULTATION IN THE THERAPEUTIC MONITORING OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Neuropsychology; Autism; Covid-19.
At the end of 2019, the world population was surprised by a new virus with high potential of contagion. Given its rapid spread around the world, in 2020 this event was classified as a pandemic. Taking into account the WHO recommendations, several countries have adopted social isolation and quarantine as a strategy to fight the pandemic, keeping only essential services running. Faced with this new social reality, health professionals, especially psychologists, started to carry out services in online mode. It is noteworthy that all social groups are subject to suffer in the face of this new reality, but, in particular, children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder continuous monitoring by a multidisciplinary team is required. The suspension of the treatment for this group of children can generate serious risks and harm to the child and their relatives. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyze how psychology professionals clinic and neuropsychology performed telecare to children with ASD in the period of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. A survey of data collection, cross-sectional quantitative-qualitative analysis in which the data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire. The target audience of this study were Psychology professionals who provided care in the online in children with ASD. The results showed that most respondents are from Rio Grande do Norte (52.2%) and provided online and in-person care (69.9%). The main activities listed by professionals carried out with children as guidance to parents are related to the organization of routine, activities of daily living and cognitive and behavioral stimulation. The present study sought to understand the dynamics of telephone calls made by psychology professionals to children with ASD during the period of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there is some studies related to teleservice, in Brazil studies are still incipient regarding this issue, especially regarding children with ASD. The impacts of this study focused mainly on guiding professionals on the possibilities of remote services for this audience.