Remote Delivery of Allied and Behavioral Healthcare During COVID-19 for Children With Developmental Disabilities

• Published in: JAACAP open Vol. 2; no. 1; pp. 36 - 44
• Main Authors: Wiggins, Lisa D., Tian, Lin H., Tinker, Sarah C., Yeargin-Allsopp, Marshalyn, DiGuiseppi, Carolyn G., Nadler, Cy, Powell, Patrick S., Moody, Eric J., Durkin, Maureen S., Fallin, M. Danielle, Ryerson, A. Blythe, Thierry, JoAnn M., Robinson, Britney, Pazol, Karen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-03-2024
• Subjects: autism; COVID-19; developmental; disabilities; telehealth; COVID-19; developmental; disabilities; telehealth; autism
• ISSN: 2949-7329; 2949-7329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaacop.2023.08.007

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD) transitioned to telehealth services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objectives were to describe reductions in allied and behavioral healthcare services and receipt of caregiver training to deliver services at home because of COVID-19 for children with ASD and other DD, and factors associated with worse response to remote delivery of services for children with ASD.
Prior to the pandemic, children 2 to 5 years of age were enrolled in a multi-site case-control study and completed a developmental assessment. Caregivers completed questionnaires on child behavior problems and ASD symptoms. Children were classified as having ASD vs another DD based on standardized diagnostic measures. Subsequently, caregivers completed a survey during January to June 2021 to assess how COVID-19 affected children and families.
Caregivers reported that most children with ASD and other DD had a decrease in service hours (50.0%-76.9% by service type) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children with ASD were significantly more likely to experience reduced speech/language therapy than children with other DD. Receipt of caregiver training to deliver services at home ranged from 38.1% to 57.4% by service type. Among children with ASD, pre-pandemic problems with internalizing behaviors and social communication/interaction were associated with worse response to behavioral telehealth but no other common therapies.
Our study demonstrates the caregiver-reported impacts of COVID-19 on remote delivery of allied and behavioral healthcare services for children with ASD and other DD. Considerations for caregiver support and remote delivery of services are provided.