Hebrew University’s Autism Child and Family Lab Investigates Impact of Recent Events on Autistic Children
The events of October 7th and subsequent warfare, have profoundly affected autistic children and their families, leading to heightened levels of trauma and stress in these children and their parents. Dr. Judah Koller and his team at the Autism Child and Family Lab, Hebrew University, revealed that both autistic and typically developing children show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, with autistic children experiencing higher levels of distress. In response, the lab has curated and created resources in multiple languages to aid affected families. Despite these unprecedented times, the lab remains dedicated, securing significant grants for one of the world’s largest developmental autism studies, including an unprecedented project in Israel researching the Jewish and Arab populations. They’re also establishing an Arabic-language diagnostic service to support an underserved community. This underscores the lab’s commitment to conducting meaningful research in a manner that advances both the science and support of autistic children and their families.
[Jerusalem] – The attacks of October 7th, the subsequent war, and the resultant disruptions have posed unique challenges to autistic children, whose reliance on routine and predictability has been significantly affected. Dr. Judah Koller and his team at the Autism Child and Family Lab, Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University, examined the psychological effects on autistic children and their families in the wake of these unsettling times.
Initial data collected within a month of October 7th revealed startling insights. Both autistic children and their typically developing peers exhibited symptoms meeting the cut-off for post-traumatic stress disorder based on parent-reported measures. However, parents reported significantly higher levels of trauma among autistic children. Moreover, parents of autistic children reported elevated levels of stress and anxiety compared to parents of typically developing children.
These findings mark the preliminary results of an ongoing longitudinal study led by Dr. Koller’s team, in collaboration with researchers from ALUT, Ben Gurion University, Bar-Ilan University, and Hebrew University. This comprehensive study aims to track these families’ experiences until October 7th, 2024, providing valuable insights into the long-term effects on autistic children and their families.
“Recent events have unveiled the acute vulnerabilities of autistic children to traumatic disruptions in routine and predictability. Our research shines a light on the critical need to support all children and parents, and particularly autistic children and their parents, as we navigate these challenging times. Acting now to support the emergent mental health needs of these families will prevent an even larger crisis that looms ahead.” – Dr. Judah Koller, Autism Child and Family Lab, Hebrew University
In response to the pressing need for support during these unprecedented times, the Autism Child and Family Lab swiftly curated resources available in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, and English. The lab’s website, hosting these resources, has witnessed a staggering increase in traffic, surpassing a remarkable 1,000% surge in the past two months.
Despite the challenges of the war, the Autism Child and Family Lab remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting meaningful autism research. Dr. Koller’s team recently secured a substantial 5-year, $468k grant from the Azrieli Foundation, supporting one of the world’s largest international developmental studies on autism. This study, launching in February 2024, aligns with a parallel multi-site study in Canada, led by Dr. Stelios Georgiades at McMaster University.
Setting a significant milestone in autism research within Israel, the upcoming study will be conducted in both Hebrew and Arabic. The inclusion of the Arab sector in this groundbreaking research became feasible through another recent grant from the Aviv Foundation. This grant aims to establish an Arabic-language diagnostic service within the lab, complementing existing services in Hebrew, English, and Russian. Scheduled to commence in January 2024, this service will fill a critical resource gap within the Arabic-speaking community.
Comparison of parent-reported emotional states in the sample collected before the war (by Prof. Ilan Dinstein at the Azrieli National Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment Research and the Department of Psychology at Ben Gurion University) and the sample collected within 30 days of Oct. 7th. The data reflects that parents of autistic children post Oct. 7th are reporting levels of depression, anxiety, and stress that are 2-4 times what was reported by the sample beforehand.
