Challenges to Telehealth: What Was Learned from Families of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

The survey was sent only by email after a telehealth visit, so families with poor internet, limited devices, literacy challenges, or interpreter needs may have been underrepresented. Many respondents left multiple telehealth questions unchecked, so the percentages may not represent all families. The data came from one hospital's clinics serving children with complex neurodevelopmental needs, so results may not apply to other populations or settings. The survey did not capture why some visits switched to phone, why some families disagreed about access, why some would not use telehealth again, or whether a handheld device was the only option. Subgroup differences were reported by race and ethnicity, but the groups were small.

Do not read the favorable survey results as proof that telehealth is equally accessible or effective for all families with children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The survey had many incomplete responses, was sent only by email, and reported technology access as the biggest challenge.