a Department of Pediatric Neuroscience, Aster DM Healthcare, Al Qusais, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
b Department of Psychology, Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
c Depart of Social Services, Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Dubai, The United Arab Emirates
Corresponding author
Dr. Vivek Mundada, Consultant Pediatric Neurologist, Aster DM Healthcare, Medcare Women and Children Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Email: vivek.mundada@medcarehospital.com
Keywords:
COVID-19; Lockdown; Children; Neurodisability
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed have affected most of us, including children with complex care needs. Because of various reasons including changed routine and social isolation, the physical and psychological health of these children have been affected.
This was an observational study with the objective of understanding and assessing the prevalence and spectrum of new-onset symptoms that children with complex care needs have been facing during lockdown, mainly due to their disrupted routine, including subsequent school closure. We selected a cohort of children who usually attend ‘Al Noor Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities’, which is a specialized center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, where they receive educational and therapeutic services from multidisciplinary team members. During the lockdown period, due to the COVID-19
