Impactos do distanciamento social por Covid-19 na comunicação de crianças e adolescentes com autismo

During the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the restrictions was social distancing, which impacted the lives of children and adolescents with autism. This study aimed to analyze the effects of social distancing on the communication of children and adolescents with autism. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, in which 322 parents or guardians answered an online questionnaire. As a result, the following stand out: 96.60% of the participants who study stopped attending school; 88.20% of the respondents assessed that there was a change in the child's behavior during the period of social distancing; 68.6% assessed that the changes were negative, 31.4% that they were positive; 46.70% indicated changes in the interaction as positive, 53.30% as negative; 70.35% stated that they had more eye contact and facial expression, 29.65% stated that they had less; 48.45% observed that language and communication were better, 51.55% that they were worse. We conclude that at least half of the children and adolescents investigated worsen in the known aspects, the Covid-19 pandemic had implications for the communication of children and adolescents with autism, and it is important that they receive support.