Impact of COVID-19 on Challenging Behaviors of Children with Profound ASD in a Residential Facility

COVID-19 has affected mental health globally, and this impact has been observed in the population with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have focused on adult populations with ASD living in residential care, or children with ASD living at home, while the present study focuses on children with profound ASD in residential care.  During the COVID-19 pandemic at this facility, we observed a significant decrease in several challenging behaviors, which contrasts with previous literature for other ASD populations. A detailed analysis found differences related to episodes and days with challenging behaviors when comparing school to non-school days, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the ratio of school to non-school days shifted significantly during COVID-19, affecting the overall results. Examining the impact of the pandemic on challenging behaviors can provide insights into how best to serve these populations during global crises.