Bridging care gaps: using tele-health to provide care for people with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

Objectives: Explore the usage of tele-health to conduct diagnostic assessments and interventions for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods: A Pubmed search was conducted using the words tele-health, telemedicine, video conferencing and telepyschiatry in conjunction with the words ASD, Autism, Asperger’s, and Developmental Disabilities. Personal experience from the first author, a tele-health and ASD expert, was also utilized.

Results: While tele-health usage and satisfaction are high, its utility in the diagnosis of ASD is limited. There are few studies to support the validity of the ADOS and Autism Diagnostic Interview(ADI), gold standard diagnostic tools, when administered via videoconferencing.

Conclusion: Tele-health with high-quality videoconferencing to provide health care, is an excellent venue to see patients with ASD that live far from experts. Its suitability as the venue for diagnostic assessment is acutely limited. It is a useful tool to triage and engage patients and families, an effective venue to provide education and training for caregivers, healthcare providers and other professionals and an effective modality to provide symptom management.

Keywords:

• tele-health
• telemedicine
• autism spectrum disorders
• autism
• developmental disabilities