Helping people with autism spectrum disorder manage masks and COVID-19 tests – Harvard Health Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many new challenges for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Features of ASD, including impaired social and communication skills, repetitive behaviors, insistence on sameness, and especially sensory intolerances, make adapting to wearing face masks and the experience of a COVID-19 test particularly challenging. Challenges of wearing face masks with ASD Many people with ASD…

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Strategies to support teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19 – Harvard Health Blog

The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as “the war of our generation.” Millions of families are bravely waging war on COVID-19 by rising to the many challenges of social distancing, including upended school and work routines, financial insecurity, and inability to see loved ones, all compounded by the uncertainty of how long this will last. These challenges are likely…

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How can you support your teenager with autism spectrum disorder if they are depressed? – Harvard Health Blog

As every parent knows, teenage life is full of challenges, from stress over academics to social relationships and physical changes due to puberty. This stage of life can be particularly challenging for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A recent study found that teenagers and young adults with ASD are nearly three times more likely to develop depression than…

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