Access Type

Open Access Embargo

Date of Award

January 2023

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

First Advisor

Shelly Jo Kraft

Abstract

EVALUATION OF TELE-DIAGNOSTIC PRACTICES IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER By Emily Graham LeRose Advisor: Dr. Shelly Jo Kraft, PhD, CCC-SLP Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Following the social-distancing mandates of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder pivoted from an in-person method of evaluation, utilizing empirically supported “gold-standard” methods, to novel tele-diagnostic methods. This research investigated the efficacy and accessibility of autism diagnostic services using the tele-diagnostic platform of autism assessment by comparing retrospective patient data from periods of in-person assessment to tele-diagnostic assessment at one, large, urban hospital.

Diagnostic outcomes for these two approaches of ASD evaluation, including the rate at which the ASD diagnosis was given, presence of co-morbid diagnoses, and alternate diagnoses was explored with quantitative analytic methods. Measures of patient accessibility to autism evaluation were also analyzed by comparing population demographics (i.e., age, socioeconomic status, geographic area, race, language preference, etc.) across the two groups.

Outcomes from the analyses yielded positive support for the option of tele-diagnostic autism evaluation. Autism diagnoses increased significantly, particularly for younger children in the tele-diagnostic group. A greater volume of children were evaluated, at younger ages, and some barriers to access to care for certain groups may have been reduced. Clinical applications and implications of these findings are explored. To further support the efficacy of tele-diagnostic autism assessment, additional research is required to solidify this methodology as a new “gold standard” option for autism assessment.

Available for download on Wednesday, April 08, 2026

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