Possible Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Language and Speech Development and Autistic Behavior in Children

Abstract

Abstract The COVID pandemic had a disabling effect on people of all ages and sexes. The enforced lockdown to curb infection rates is hypothesized to have affected toddlers and young children in the developmental phase. The authors report this observation of a significant increase in the consultation numbers of children with speech and language issues and autistic-like behavior postpandemic from Kolkata, West Bengal, and India. There were striking similarities in the profile of these child cases, adding to the doubt whether the COVID pandemic and subsequent lockdown facilitated in the development of language and speech deficits as well as autistic-like features in developing children. It would be of important to know if the effects are temporary in nature or improve with time. Appropriate intervention strategies are suggested.