{"id":19209,"date":"2020-08-11T10:17:18","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T14:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/edhd\/?p=19209"},"modified":"2020-08-11T10:17:18","modified_gmt":"2020-08-11T14:17:18","slug":"rural-families-of-children-with-autism-may-benefit-from-telehealth-study-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/edhd\/2020\/08\/11\/rural-families-of-children-with-autism-may-benefit-from-telehealth-study-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Rural families of children with autism may benefit from telehealth, study says"},"content":{"rendered":"

Families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who live in rural areas might receive better and more equitable access to early intervention services using telehealth technology, according to a recent study led by two University of Maine professors.<\/p>\n

Studies have shown that early intervention is key to improving developmental and educational outcomes for children with autism. However, rural families often have to travel great distances for such services, which are more readily available near population centers. Telehealth is one option for addressing this problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncreasing the availability of evidence-based interventions through telehealth may be a valid solution to closing the gap between service demand and availability in rural and underserved areas,\u201d the study says.<\/p>\n

Led by assistant professors of special education Deborah Rooks-Ellis and Sarah Howorth, the study looked at what happened when a state program provided an early intervention service to families via telehealth. The service was the parent-Early Start Denver Model, a relationship-based intervention that works with caregivers and children, targeting multiple skills within the child\u2019s daily routine designed to strengthen and support development. Over a 12-week period, an experienced state interventionist worked with families on P-ESDM skills during 90-minute videoconferencing sessions.<\/p>\n

Parents who participated in the study showed a better grasp of the intervention strategies and reported satisfaction with how easy it was to access services through telehealth.<\/p>\n

In addition, caregivers generally were pleased with the gains made by their children. The researchers found statistically significant changes in children\u2019s ASD symptoms pre- and post-intervention in areas such as communication, social reciprocity, and repetitive and restricted behaviors. For example, following intervention, \u201cparents reported their child shared enjoyment or excitement with others.\u201d Children also \u201cexperienced problems in communicating with others less frequently\u201d and \u201ccertain rituals or routines were reported to have less impact on\u2026 daily functioning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although further research is needed, the authors conclude that: \u201cProviding intervention using telehealth as a service delivery model may alleviate higher costs of services associated with travel time, distance between families, and provider shortages.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to Rooks-Ellis and Howorth, the study was conducted by Susane Boulette with the Maine Department of Education; Megan Kunze at the University of Oregon; and Ella Sulinski with 91르적\u2019s School of Social Work. The research was made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Department of Education.<\/p>\n

The results were published in the Journal of Childhood, Education & Society. The article is available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Contact: Casey Kelly, casey.kelly@maine.edu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who live in rural areas might receive better and more equitable access to early intervention services using telehealth technology, according to a recent study led by two University of Maine professors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":19210,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"8","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who live in rural areas might receive better and more equitable access to early intervention services using telehealth technology, according to a recent study led by two University of Maine 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