The ongoing pandemic has significantly worsened delays in autism care for children, resulting in many waiting over a year during crucial developmental periods. With advances in early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, a record one in 44 8-year-olds in the U.S. is now diagnosed with autism and eligible for treatment. However, these diagnoses are futile when children face extensive wait times for essential care, and the pandemic has intensified existing shortages of specialists and in-home therapists.
As Kristin Johnson, founder of the Autism Needs Equal Coverage Initiative, expressed, “The strain on families waiting for diagnosis or treatment can be heart-wrenching. They sense that something is amiss and know help is available, yet they feel powerless.” While the pandemic has compounded these delays, strict insurance requirements for initial diagnoses from certain qualified professionals have led to a backlog of families needing assistance across the country. Many insurers do not recognize diagnoses from general pediatricians, insisting on certification from developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, or neurologists before approving coverage for therapeutic services.
Dr. Mark Thompson, a pediatric neurologist and board member of the Medical Association of California, warns, “Relying solely on specialists sets us up for failure since their numbers are limited. Insurance companies must collaborate to address this issue.” Families with sufficient finances can often circumvent these delays by paying out-of-pocket for neuropsychological evaluations that can cost thousands. In contrast, those without such means—especially in rural areas—find themselves trapped in a challenging system. Dr. Emily Rogers, chair of the Pediatric Council on Disabilities, remarked, “You would never tolerate such delays for a child with cancer.”
Autism, more prevalent in boys than girls, can be diagnosed as early as 2 or 3 years old. Early intervention is crucial, as it can significantly impact long-term outcomes. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a common treatment, typically requires 20-40 hours of therapy weekly. Although some criticize ABA for its approach to behavior modification, many parents credit it with improving their children’s communication and social engagement.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has led to staffing shortages and high turnover rates among therapists, resulting in long wait times for children to access care. Families who can afford private therapy often secure timely help, creating disparities in treatment access. Delays in obtaining a diagnosis from an accepting specialist, followed by more waiting for a therapist, can lead to waiting periods of a year or longer. With further setbacks due to in-person appointment cancellations during the pandemic, countless children have been deprived of critical care.
Addressing these challenges requires insurance companies to revise their policies to facilitate quicker diagnoses and therapy access. Improving conditions for therapists and combatting the stigma surrounding autism are also essential steps toward a solution. For more information, check out our related post on home insemination kits, or visit Make a Mom for expertise in this field. Furthermore, Drugs.com offers an excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, the pandemic has dramatically increased the wait times for children needing autism care, leaving many families in distress. Solutions involve policy changes by insurers, better support for therapists, and a collective effort to reduce stigma.
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