According to new research conducted by major autism treatment providers, caregivers of autistic children reported finding value in their child’s treatment when in-person care transitioned to telehealth-based services during the COVID-19 pandemic
Media Contact: Karen Nohelty | K.Nohelty@centerforautism.com | 818.345.2345 (o)
Henderson, NV, May 16, 2023 – A recent study conducted by researchers at leading applied behavior analysis (ABA) autism treatment providers found that telehealth-based treatment for autism provided “meaningful therapeutic benefits” for patients. The study was led by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) in collaboration with clinical leaders from other ABA treatment providers and institutions, including Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers, Autism Learning Partners, LEARN Behavioral, and the University of Southern California.
The multisite study assessed caregiver-reported quality of life and social validity for 269 families of autistic children who were receiving telehealth-based services. The study also analyzed whether the participants’ funding source or various barriers impacted families’ experiences with telehealth. Overall, caregivers found telehealth-based services to have meaningful therapeutic benefits.
“During the pandemic, research studies were beginning to demonstrate the effectiveness of telehealth-based treatment; however, little was known about families’ experiences following the abrupt transition to telehealth,” said Dennis Dixon, Ph.D., CARD Chief Clinical Officer. “Our organizations set out to conduct a study to evaluate whether caregivers felt telehealth-based services provided their child meaningful therapeutic benefits and identify how providers could improve families’ experiences.”
Transitioning to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic was in the best interest of patients to ensure their safety and continuity of treatment. While telehealth had been previously used for some elements of ABA, the pandemic was the first introduction for most clinicians and families to using video conferencing platforms to implement direct ABA treatment services for the treatment of autism.
ABA is a medically necessary treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that involves the use of behavioral strategies to promote skill acquisition and decrease maladaptive behaviors. Services are often implemented on a one-to-one basis and at high intensities, up to 40 hours per week. Maintaining clinically recommended treatment dosages is essential as reductions or gaps in services may hinder a patient’s treatment progress or lead to skill regression.
Compared to in-person services, telehealth services may put increased demands on caregivers. Caregivers may need to navigate technical difficulties and help facilitate treatment to keep their child engaged or deliver reinforcement. This may be increasingly challenging for caregivers who are working, either inside or outside of the home, or have other children to care for in the household. The current study found that barriers, including technology, childcare, and employment, were found to impact caregiver-reported QoL and social validity of telehealth-based services.
Even as life continues to return to normal after the public health crisis, telehealth-based treatment should be considered a viable supplemental or alternative treatment modality to maintain clinically recommended treatment dosages in circumstances that in-person services are not an option. When evaluating the appropriateness of telehealth-based services for a patient, potential barriers should be assessed and mitigated to promote a better experience for the family.
“While this collaboration came together to address the immediate challenges our organizations and patients were facing as a result of the pandemic, we all recognize the continued value of working together to help provide the best quality care to the population we serve,” said Karen Nohelty, M.Ed., BCBA, CARD Research Director.
In line with CARD’s mission to provide the highest quality treatment for autistic individuals, CARD is dedicated to conducting research initiatives that advance clinical practices and harness technology to improve the efficacy, efficiency, and accessibility of ABA-based treatment. To inquire about a potential research collaboration, please email research@centerforautism.com.
References:
Nohelty, K., Hahs, A. D., Rodriguez, K. A., Rue, H., Cameron, M. J., & Dixon, D. R. (2023). Assessing the social validity of telehealth‐based applied behavior analysis services for autism spectrum disorder. Behavioral Interventions, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1938
About Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD)
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD®) is the nation’s leading autism treatment provider. Backed by more than 30 years of unmatched clinical research, our people are passionate about providing patients with the most trusted and highest quality autism care. Our singular mission is to empower people with autism and their families to live their best, happiest, and most successful lives. Founded in 1990, CARD treats individuals with ASD using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), which is empirically proven to be the most effective method for treating individuals with ASD and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General. For more information, visit centerforautism.com.