Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Why telehealth will change the course of autism

Anonymous
Conditions
February 4, 2022
Share
Tweet
Share

As a medical student working in East Harlem, I see inequities in access to care on a daily basis. These inequities are exemplified amongst children suffering from neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism. In 2000, about 1 in 150 children were identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). That rate has skyrocketed to 1 in 44 today. For parents and their children, it is well appreciated that an early diagnosis for conditions such as autism leads to better outcomes. The dilemma, as I appreciated on my pediatrics rotation at Elmhurst Hospital, is that the process for testing and obtaining a definite autism diagnosis is rarely straightforward. Early diagnosis requires close interaction with a skilled clinician, which is an elusive goal for many.

Early detection is important, yet is often not available to the most underserved members of our health care system. Statistics bear this out. Autism is four times more likely to be identified in boys than girls. Some believe this reflects a varying presentation of autism by gender, leading to underdiagnosis. Additionally, the rate of identified autism varies significantly by one’s community. Autism is identified in 1 in 60 children in Missouri but 1 in 26 in California. This startling statistic raises concern that external factors are leading to the underdiagnosis of those with autism. Prior analysis has even shown that Caucasian children are 20 percent more likely to be identified as having autism than Hispanic children. Socioeconomic barriers are likely driving these disparities, preventing thousands of young children from getting the evaluations and care they need at the age range when an early diagnosis can provide the most impact.

Health care barriers in underserved communities have been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, this reality has had a positive impact in highlighting the need for increased access to care. A recent systematic review highlighted that restrictions on in-person services have expedited the transition to telehealth services that were previously almost exclusively in-person. The study suggests that telehealth services for autism testing and treatment, when available for all communities, were equivalent or better than in-person services. The study compared several models for telehealth services. One model relied on using both children and their parents together. Others used behavioral interventionists or teachers of children with ASD. While these studies are limited by their small sample size, they demonstrate the feasibility of using telehealth for both diagnosis and assessment of children with ASD.

Additionally, telehealth autism services have the potential to significantly improve access to care, a critical barrier for underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. This disparity in access to in-person autism care has been magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-term impact of delayed access to autism diagnosis remains to be seen but may have a significant impact on educational attainment, social development, and workforce diversity.

The good news is that the availability and accessibility of telehealth for autism care are making valuable inroads for all families. On January 1, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services permanently expanded the number of telehealth services for those eligible for Medicare reimbursement. There is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for growth in telehealth demand. In 2020 only 49 percent of Americans said they would use telehealth for their mental health. In 2021 that number was 59 percent.

In conclusion, all indications show there is an increasing need for telehealth autism services, not only for the benefits they provide families but also for the access and outcome benefits they provide to both ethnically and regionally underserved. While a relatively new service, preliminary studies have shown that telehealth autism services are effective and beneficial. I look forward to the transformative impact telehealth will have on my patients at Elmhurst and others.

The authors are anonymous medical students.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

A physician's money goals for 2022

February 4, 2022 Kevin 0
…
Next

Patients need palliative care to manage the pain of sickle cell disease

February 4, 2022 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Neurology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
A physician's money goals for 2022
Next Post >
Patients need palliative care to manage the pain of sickle cell disease

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Anonymous

  • Why young doctors in South Korea feel broken before they even begin

    Anonymous
  • Do Jewish students face rising bias in holistic admissions?

    Anonymous
  • Medical students in Korea face expulsion for speaking out

    Anonymous

Related Posts

  • We need to change the way we talk about climate change

    Jacob A. Fox
  • Why residency applications need to change

    Sean Kiesel, DO, MBA
  • Please change the culture of surgery

    Anonymous
  • Telehealth in underserved populations needs telecommunication expansion

    Sammi Wong and Krysti Lan Chi Vo, MD
  • Expanding health care access and equity through telehealth

    Gjanje L. Smith, MD, MPH, Wanneh A. Dixon, and Maria Phillips, JD
  • PCPs could counter virtual plans by increasing telehealth visits

    Ken Terry

More in Conditions

  • What one diagnosis can change: the movement to make dining safer

    Lianne Mandelbaum, PT
  • How kindness in disguise is holding women back in academic medicine

    Sylk Sotto, EdD, MPS, MBA
  • Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever

    American College of Physicians
  • Hope is the lifeline: a deeper look into transplant care

    Judith Eguzoikpe, MD, MPH
  • From hospital bed to harsh truths: a writer’s unexpected journey

    Raymond Abbott
  • Bird flu’s deadly return: Are we flying blind into the next pandemic?

    Tista S. Ghosh, MD, MPH
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • Why physicians deserve more than an oxygen mask

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Avarie’s story: Confronting the deadly gaps in food allergy education and emergency response [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Avarie’s story: Confronting the deadly gaps in food allergy education and emergency response [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why the physician shortage may be our last line of defense

      Yuri Aronov, MD | Physician
    • 5 years later: Doctors reveal the untold truths of COVID-19

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The hidden cost of health care: burnout, disillusionment, and systemic betrayal

      Nivedita U. Jerath, MD | Physician
    • What one diagnosis can change: the movement to make dining safer

      Lianne Mandelbaum, PT | Conditions
    • Why this doctor hid her story for a decade

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The silent toll of ICE raids on U.S. patient care

      Carlin Lockwood | Policy
    • Addressing the physician shortage: How AI can help, not replace

      Amelia Mercado | Tech
    • Why medical students are trading empathy for publications

      Vijay Rajput, MD | Education
    • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

      Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO | Meds
    • Why physicians deserve more than an oxygen mask

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
    • Avarie’s story: Confronting the deadly gaps in food allergy education and emergency response [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • What’s driving medical students away from primary care?

      ​​Vineeth Amba, MPH, Archita Goyal, and Wayne Altman, MD | Education
    • How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care

      Shashank Madhu and Christian Tallo | Education
    • How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship

      Neil Baum, MD | Physician
    • A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how

      Ankit Jain | Education
    • Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check

      Joshua Baker and James Jackson, PsyD | Conditions
    • The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Avarie’s story: Confronting the deadly gaps in food allergy education and emergency response [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why the physician shortage may be our last line of defense

      Yuri Aronov, MD | Physician
    • 5 years later: Doctors reveal the untold truths of COVID-19

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The hidden cost of health care: burnout, disillusionment, and systemic betrayal

      Nivedita U. Jerath, MD | Physician
    • What one diagnosis can change: the movement to make dining safer

      Lianne Mandelbaum, PT | Conditions
    • Why this doctor hid her story for a decade

      Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...