Re: Study shows families' financial strain from autism

[Guest guest]

They needed to do a STUDY to figure this out??? I wish that some studies that would actually help our kids would get funded.

Study shows families' financial strain from autismThe Associated Press http://is.gd/9KItMonday, December 1, 2008CHICAGO: More than half a million U.S. children have autism withcostly health care needs that often put an unprecedented financialstrain on their families, national data show.Compared with parents whose youngsters have chronic health care needsbut not autism, those with autistic children are three times morelikely to have to quit their jobs or reduce work hours to care fortheir kids. They pay more for their kids' health needs, spend moretime providing or arranging for that care, and are more likely to havemoney difficulties, the study found."This is the first national survey that looked at the impact onfamilies of having kids with special health care needs," said leadauthor Kogan, a researcher with the government's Maternal andChild Health Bureau.The results are from a nationally representative 2005-06 survey ofnearly 40,000 children with special health care needs. These childrenhave a broad range of chronic conditions, including physical andmental illness, requiring more extensive than usual medical care.A total of 2,088 children with special health needs had autism, whichtranslates to about 535,000 kids aged 3 to 17 nationwide, the studyauthors said.The study appears in December's Pediatrics, being released Monday.Autism typically involves poor verbal communication, repetitivebehaviors such as head-banging, and avoidance of physical or eyecontact. Affected children often need many more types of treatmentthan kids with other chronic conditions, including speech and behaviortherapy and sometimes medication. Kogan said that may explain thedisproportionate strain on their families.Jacquie Mace, whose 12-year-old son, Austin, has autism, said thestudy presents a "very realistic" picture of the challenges affectedfamilies face.Mace said she spends "easily $15,000 to $20,000 out of pocket" yearlyon supplies for behavior treatment she provides for her son.She's still working to pay off a $7,000 bill for dental work Austinhad last year. He has to be sedated and hospitalized for dental carebecause he can't sit still in a chair, Mace explained. Austin's healthinsurance doesn't cover any of it, she said.Some states require insurers to cover certain autism treatment whilesimilar proposed measures are pending in others, including Illinois.Mace hasn't had to quit her job helping local families find autismresources, but knows of many parents who've had to leave work to carefor their autistic kids.She is divorced & #151; another common casualty, she said, of the challengesof caring for autistic kids.___On the Net:Pediatrics: http://www.aap.org/Maternal and Child Health Bureau: http://www.hrsa.gov/ Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com.