Telehealth assessments can accurately diagnose autism in children, particularly those with limited speech, according to new research.
In a study of 39 children, researchers compared virtual assessments with in-person evaluations using separate clinical teams for each method, according to a May 4 news release from the University of California, Riverside.
The study, published May 2 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, found strong accuracy for certain telehealth tools, especially among children with limited speech. While tools for more verbally fluent children were effective in many cases, their results were less consistent.
The approach relies on video-based interactions, with clinicians guiding parents through structured activities while observing children’s behaviors remotely.
Researchers said telehealth could help expand access to autism diagnostic services, particularly for families in rural areas or those facing transportation challenges. However, they noted that more complex cases may still require in-person evaluation.
“I don’t want to oversell it,” lead researcher Katherine Meltzoff, PhD, a clinical psychologist and professor of education at UC Riverside, said in the release. “It worked for most kids, but more complex cases — the ones that are already difficult even when done in-person — can be harder to evaluate remotely.”
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