New study suggests one in 40 U.S. kids has autism
Published on December 6th, 2018 by Eric Slepian
A recently published study suggests that one in 40 kids in the United States has been diagnosed with autism, which is equal to about 1.5 million kids throughout the country.
The study also found that the parents of children with autism were 44 percent more likely to report experiencing a lot of difficulty getting the necessary mental health services for their children compared with parents of children with other emotional and behavioral issues.
The lead author of the study told Reuters that children with autism were also “less likely to have a medical home, get needed referrals and get needed care coordination compared to children with other emotional, behavioral and developmental disorders.”
The findings were based on survey results from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, which involved parents of about 43,000 children.
The financial burden of an autism diagnosis
An autism diagnosis carries more than just added emotional and physical demands of parents. It also often leads to significant financial demands.
Many times, one parent must quit his or her job to provide constant care for the child. A school-age child with autism may also need to attend a special school that can cost hundreds of dollars per month.
Additionally, not all treatment for autism is covered by insurance, which can lead to significant out-of-pocket expense for families. Expensive equipment and tech devices may also be required to help autistic children communicate and learn.
SSI may be available for financial support
Parents of children with autism should know that it may be possible for the child to qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to help meet the financial demands of treatment. To qualify for SSI, a child must have a physical or mental condition that seriously limits his or her activities and that condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least one year or result in death.
