INTRODUCTION

Some children with developmental disabilities face emotional difficulty, behavioral issues, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Lack of understanding, inability to communicate the condition and lack of physical access to therapeutic services leads to anxiety and stress in both, children, and parents. This study intends to present the massive impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the delivery and utilization of therapy services for children living with developmental disabilities.

OBJECTIVES

This study explored the impact of utilization pattern of therapy services like speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy & psychological services for children and adolescents with developmental disabilities and changes in mode of administration/access to these therapy services.

METHODS

This retrospective, anonymized data included children and adolescents covered under Medicaid and commercial plans during 2020-2021. Children and adolescents in age group of 3-17 years using services for autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities and other developmental delays were enrolled in this study. International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes were used to identify the above-mentioned population. The analysis will evaluate the changes in utilization frequency and access to therapy services for children & adolescents across school and outpatient settings.

RESULTS

This study observed a significant disruption in delivery of therapy services across all settings and a marked decrease in utilization due to problems with access to these services. We also observed a change in mode of administration of therapy services, with in-person visits being severely impacted and a noticeable shift to telehealth services.

CONCLUSIONS

Difficulty in accessing critical therapy services could result in deficits that further exacerbate the child’s developmental delays or lead to relapses. For long term better outcomes, children with development disabilities should ideally have continual access to therapy services without disruption.