Telehealth Delivered Social Communication Skills Interventions Among Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Abstract Effective social communication skills are closely linked to positive developmental outcomes and overall quality of life. Yet, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities often experience challenges in this area. Telehealth has emerged as a promising modality for delivering behavior analytic interventions to support social communication, but questions remain regarding its effectiveness and feasibility. This systematic review aimed to synthesize 22 peer-reviewed single-case design studies targeting social communication skills via telehealth. Studies were summarized by participant characteristics, targeted skills, and intervention components and evaluated using What Works Clearinghouse (WWC; 2020) standards. Nearly half of the 49 experiments demonstrated strong evidence of intervention effects, though outcomes were variable and generalization and maintenance were inconsistently assessed. Most interventions relied on caregiver-mediated delivery, and technology-related barriers were common. Future research is needed to address gaps in addressing underrepresented intellectual and developmental disability populations and ensure that telehealth interventions are both practical and accessible.