In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, most public schools across the country took temporary shutdown measures for about three months from March 2, 2020 to the end of May. The actual conditions during this school closure and after school resumption among children with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study is to understand the actual situation of children during closure and after resuming of school by reviewing newspaper articles and academic journal reports.
Further, an investigation was conducted in a neuropediatric clinic based on medical records of 49 children with neurodevelopmental disorders. 18 of 49 children (36.7%) spent irregular lifestyles during the school shutdown, and 3 (6.1%) had emotional deterioration during the school shutdown. 18 cases (36.7%) showed a stable condition, 14 cases (28.6%) worsened their condition after resuming school, and in 10 cases (20.4%), the problem was the same as before the school was closed. This investigation is expected to prepare for a similar situation in the future and also provides useful suggestions for coping with children's impulsive and emotional behavior during long vacations and unexpected changes in school schedule.