Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic constrained some research and practice methods. This paper reviews research on neurodevelopmental disorders during the pandemic, explores their impact, and proposes future methodologies. Reducing the risk of study suspensions—for example, by conducting online recruitment and research in normal times–is a need. The neurodevelopmental group experienced exacerbated symptoms during the pandemic. This finding is partly attributable to pre-existing factors in neurodevelopmental disorders. Some reports have highlighted the usefulness of telemedicine and the validity of online psychological testing, which can be useful for individuals with mobility difficulties and vulnerability to environmental change. Reports also indicate that online psychological testing has some problems such as participant bias and the accuracy of background information. However, online psychological testing also has the advantage of accessing individuals who would be difficult to engage in face-to-face testing. To ensure smooth research during pandemic-like situations, examining pandemic-era findings and developing guidelines are vital. Utilizing face-to-face and online research advantages is expected to advance neurodevelopmental disorder research, thereby accumulating insights into and supporting atypical development.
