The impact of childhood language difficulties on healthcare costs from 4 to 13 years: Australian longitudinal study

Cronin, P; Reeve, R; Mccabe, P; Viney, R; Goodall, S

The impact of childhood language difficulties on healthcare costs from 4 to 13 years: Australian longitudinal study

Cronin, P

Reeve, R

Mccabe, P Viney, R

Goodall, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2017, 19 (4), pp. 381 - 391
Issue Date:: 2017-07-04

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cronin, P https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4422-7760	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Reeve, R https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1022-8052	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mccabe, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Viney, R https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0039-9635	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Goodall, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6611-6565	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:11:59Z
dc.date.issued	2017-07-04	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 2017, 19 (4), pp. 381 - 391	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1754-9515	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/124460
dc.description.abstract	© 2016 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited Published by Taylor & Francis. Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between children’s language difficulties and health care costs using the 2004–2012 Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Method: Language difficulties were defined as scores ≤1.25SD below the standardised mean on measures of directly assessed receptive vocabulary (4–9 years) and teacher-reported language and literacy (10–13 years). Participant data were individually linked to administrative data, which were sourced from Australia’s universal subsidised healthcare scheme (Medicare). Result: It was found that healthcare costs over each 2-year age band were higher for children with language difficulties than without in the 4–5-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$357, 95%CI $59, $659), in the 6–7-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$602, 95%CI $136, $1068) and in the 10–11-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$504, 95%CI $153, $854). Out-of-pocket costs, that is the portion of healthcare costs paid for by the family, were also higher for children with than without language difficulties in the 4–5-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$123, 95%CI $46, $199), in the 6–7-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$176, 95%CI $74,278) and in the 10–11-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$79, 95%CI $6, $152). Medical services accounted for 97% of total healthcare cost differences. Conclusion: Overall the findings from this study suggest that language difficulties are associated with increased healthcare costs at key developmental milestones, notably early childhood and as a child approaches the teenage years.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/17549507.2016.1216599	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Language Development Disorders	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Longitudinal Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Child, Preschool	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Health Care Costs	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.title	The impact of childhood language difficulties on healthcare costs from 4 to 13 years: Australian longitudinal study	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	19	en_US
utslib.for	140208 Health Economics	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	2004 Linguistics	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHERE - Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	19	en_US

Abstract:

© 2016 The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited Published by Taylor & Francis. Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between children’s language difficulties and health care costs using the 2004–2012 Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Method: Language difficulties were defined as scores ≤1.25SD below the standardised mean on measures of directly assessed receptive vocabulary (4–9 years) and teacher-reported language and literacy (10–13 years). Participant data were individually linked to administrative data, which were sourced from Australia’s universal subsidised healthcare scheme (Medicare). Result: It was found that healthcare costs over each 2-year age band were higher for children with language difficulties than without in the 4–5-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$357, 95%CI $59, $659), in the 6–7-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$602, 95%CI $136, $1068) and in the 10–11-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$504, 95%CI $153, $854). Out-of-pocket costs, that is the portion of healthcare costs paid for by the family, were also higher for children with than without language difficulties in the 4–5-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$123, 95%CI $46, $199), in the 6–7-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$176, 95%CI $74,278) and in the 10–11-year-age bracket (mean difference = AU$79, 95%CI $6, $152). Medical services accounted for 97% of total healthcare cost differences. Conclusion: Overall the findings from this study suggest that language difficulties are associated with increased healthcare costs at key developmental milestones, notably early childhood and as a child approaches the teenage years.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/124460