Trial results for a study investigating a novel telemedicine tool for the identification of preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-08-24, with 148 participants enrolled.
Background
Families seeking evaluation for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face barriers such as limited specialist availability, lengthy waitlists, and significant travel distances to diagnostic centers. These challenges are particularly pronounced for children from traditionally underserved groups and communities. Without innovative approaches for enhanced identification of ASD, families and clinicians will continue to struggle with accessing and providing care. Telemedicine offers tremendous potential for addressing this need, but there are few psychometrically sound, validated tools that can be administered remotely.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 148 participants to investigate the identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The trial explored the effectiveness of a novel telemedicine tool in reducing disparities related to the identification of preschool children with autism. Participants were assessed in two groups: a 'Tele-assessment Only' group and a 'Tele-assessment + In-person Assessment' group. While specific primary outcomes were not detailed, key measurements focused on diagnostic certainty and family satisfaction.
Key results
The trial reported key measurements related to diagnostic certainty and family satisfaction:
- Diagnostic Certainty: Tele-assessment (score on a scale, range 1-4):
- For the 'Tele-assessment Only' group, the mean score was 3.07 (Standard Deviation 0.83).
- For the 'Tele-assessment + In-person Assessment' group, the mean score was 2.85 (Standard Deviation 0.99).
- Family Satisfaction (percentage endorsing "very true"):
- In the 'Tele-assessment Only' group, reported percentages were 96.3%, 96.3%, 38.5%, 92.6%, and 77.8%.
- In the 'Tele-assessment + In-person Assessment' group, reported percentages were 93.0%, 98.2%, 51.8%, 95.6%, and 91.2%.
What this means
The posted results suggest that a novel telemedicine tool for autism identification may offer a viable approach to diagnosis, particularly in addressing current access barriers. The reported mean diagnostic certainty scores and high percentages of family satisfaction indicate potential for this method to be accepted and effective. These findings could support the development and implementation of remote diagnostic tools to improve early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder, especially for underserved populations.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT05373173, titled "Can a Novel Telemedicine Tool Reduce Disparities Related to the Identification of Preschool Children With Autism?", were posted on 2025-08-24 on clinicaltrials.gov.