The Lifetime Distribution of the Incremental Societal Costs of Autism

Abstract

Although autism is typically thought of as a disorder of childhood, its costs can be felt well into adulthood. The substantial costs resulting from adult care and lost productivity of both individuals with autism and their parents have important implications for those aging members of the baby boom generation approaching retirement, including large financial burdens affecting not only those families but also potentially society in general. These results may imply that physicians and other care professionals should consider recommending that parents of children with autism seek financial counseling to help plan for the transition into adulthood.

The Economics of Autism in Egypt

“…Americans with ASD, on the other hand, incur over $306,000 in additional direct medical costs alone, implying that these individuals spend twice as much as the typical American over their lifetimes. Autistic Americans also spend 60% of those incremental direct medical costs after age 21 (Ganz, 2007). Controlling for income and lifestyle differences between Egyptians and Americans based on household income classifications reported in Table 1, we find that the comparatively low direct medical costs of ASD in Egypt results from the trade-offs between household care and institutional sources of health care.…”

“…Controlling for income and lifestyle differences between Egyptians and Americans based on household income classifications reported in Table 1, we find that the comparatively low direct medical costs of ASD in Egypt results from the trade-offs between household care and institutional sources of health care. Direct (i.e., state expenditures) and indirect societal costs to support a single American with ASD is $3.2 million over his or her lifetime (Ganz, 2007). Schooling and community support also create significant financial responsibilities for welfare states like Sweden (Jarbrink, 2007).…”

“…Another study finds that lost productivity and adult care constitute the largest cost components in the United States. Although autism is often considered a childhood disorder, it bears lifetime cost consequences that significantly increase during adulthood (Ganz, 2007).…”

Use and Perceived Effectiveness of Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat and Manage the Symptoms of Autism in Children: A Survey of Parents in a Community Population

“…6 A recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health estimated that the lifetime cost to care for an individual with an ASD is $3.2 million. 7 Research into what is causing this increase in the incidence of ASDs has yielded little concrete results; as with many other complex disorders, the cause of autism is thought to involve a combination of genetics and environmental exposures. 6 Increased surveillance and broadening of the definition of ASDs may also be contributing to increased diagnoses.…”

A Systematic Review of Vocational Interventions for Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…3 Many of these children are now transitioning to adulthood. Adults with ASD incur substantial public costs [4][5][6] ; thus, there is an urgent public health and scientific need to identify which services and interventions are most effective in increasing the quality of life of these individuals and their potential for independent functioning. While historically there has been a scientific and clinical focus on early identification and intervention in the field of ASD research, core social communication and repetitive behavior symptoms typically last throughout the life course for most individuals.…”