Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Transform Your Practice with Telehealth: Empowering Caregivers to Support Young Children on the Autism Waitlist

Transform Your Practice with Telehealth: Empowering Caregivers to Support Young Children on the Autism Waitlist

In recent years, the use of telehealth has revolutionized the way we deliver services in special education, particularly for children on the waitlist for an autism diagnosis. A groundbreaking study titled "Coaching via Telehealth: Caregiver-Mediated Interventions for Young Children on the Waitlist for an Autism Diagnosis Using Single-Case Design" provides valuable insights into how we can leverage telehealth to empower caregivers and improve outcomes for young children.

Key Findings and Their Implications

The study employed a single-case, concurrent multiple baseline design to examine the effects of a parent-mediated intervention delivered via telehealth. Six mother-child dyads participated, all from underserved, under-resourced, or rural locations. The intervention focused on reducing higher-order restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests (RRBIs) using four evidence-based applied behavior analytic strategies: modeling, prompting, differential reinforcement of appropriate behaviors, and response interruption and redirection.

1. Empowering Caregivers Through Telehealth

One of the standout findings from the study is the effectiveness of telehealth in coaching caregivers. By using telehealth, caregivers were able to receive real-time feedback and guidance, significantly improving their ability to implement intervention strategies. This method not only addresses geographical barriers but also provides a cost-effective solution to the shortage of mental health professionals.

2. Effective Strategies for Reducing RRBIs

The study highlighted four key strategies that were effective in reducing higher-order RRBIs:

3. Strong Impact on Child Behavior

The intervention showed a strong basic effect on both parent strategy use and child behavior. All child participants demonstrated a decrease in inflexible behaviors and an increase in flexible behaviors during play. This suggests that parent-mediated interventions, when delivered via telehealth, can have a significant impact on child development, even before a formal autism diagnosis is made.

Recommendations for Practitioners

Based on the findings, here are some recommendations for practitioners looking to implement telehealth interventions:

Encouraging Further Research

While the study provides valuable insights, it also highlights the need for further research in this area. Future studies should explore the long-term effects of telehealth interventions, the scalability of these approaches, and the potential for integrating other evidence-based practices.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Coaching via Telehealth: Caregiver-Mediated Interventions for Young Children on the Waitlist for an Autism Diagnosis Using Single-Case Design


Citation: Kunze, M. G., Machalicek, W., Wei, Q., St. Joseph, S., & Margari, L. (2021). Coaching via Telehealth: Caregiver-Mediated Interventions for Young Children on the Waitlist for an Autism Diagnosis Using Single-Case Design. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(8), 1654. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10081654
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP

Apply Today

If you are looking for a rewarding career
in online therapy apply today!

APPLY NOW

Sign Up For a Demo Today

Does your school need
Online Therapy Services

SIGN UP