Service and Wider Societal Costs of Very Young Children with Autism in the UK

• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-011-1306-x
• Publication Date: 2011-11-17T04:45:27Z
• Authors: Barbara Barrett; Sarah Byford; Jessica Sharac; Kristelle Hudry; Kathy Leadbitter; Kathryn Temple; Catherine Aldred; Vicky Slonims; Jonathan Green
• Keywords: Male; 020; 791; 05 social sciences; Age Factors; autism; Health Care Costs; Severity of Illness Index; United Kingdom; 3. Good health; very young children; Cost of Illness; Child, Preschool; cost; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Autistic Disorder; service use

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with a substantial economic burden, but there is little evidence of the costs in the early years; the period in which children are increasingly likely to be diagnosed. We describe the services used by 152 children aged 24-60 months with autism, report family out-of-pocket expenses and productivity losses, and explore the relationship between family characteristics and costs. Children received a wide range of hospital and community services including relatively high levels of contact with speech and language therapists and paediatricians. Total service costs varied greatly (mean £430 per month; range £53 to £1,116), with some families receiving little statutory support. Higher costs were associated with increasing age and symptom severity.