KOCHI:Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a multi-factorial disorder. There is no one cause of ASD. The most prominent risk factor is genetics, both familial and de novo.Studies by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) reveal that 1 in 89 children aged between 2 and 9 years have been diagnosed with autism in India.
Studies have also shown that if one of an identical twin has ASD, then the other would be affected 36-95% of the time. In case of non-identical twins, if one child has ASD, the other is likely to be affected 31% of the time. Parents who already have a child with ASD risk a 2-18% chance of having a second child afflicted with the disorder.
Parents often read about autism or see it in movies but they will never imagine that their child could have a serious developmental problem like autism. They often suspect that developmental delay or ASD can lead to variability an the age of the first diagnosis – typically around three years of age.Restrictive and repetitive actions can be difficult to identify up to the age of four because. Since the new diagnosis also requires behaviours to be demonstrably incompetent (such as during a child’s interaction at daycare), a lag between symptoms and diagnosis is likely to continue.
Research has shown that early detection and therapy can resolve and, in certain cases, even restore the emotional, behavioural and academic development of autistic children. But this is possible only if parents spot the warning signs early on. For instance, parents need to observe the child’s behaviour and look for symptoms such as delay in speech development or difficulty in interaction with others.
A typical diagnostic evaluation involves a multi-disciplinary team including pediatricians, psychologists, speech and language therapy experts. Testing takes a number of hours and can be exhausting for children, parents and clinicians, but rewarding in the long run.
A late diagnosis of autism requires prolonged therapy and support services to help the child develop various capabilities, including social and communication skills. ASD can take a serious toll on the emotional and physical health of the affected people and pose a serious financial challenge for their families.
Medical treatment and special therapies/education can cost Rs 2-4 lakh a year. A monthly expenditure of R25,000-30,000 on speech and vocational therapy is not unusual, as just one session of speech therapy can cost up to R500. Loss of wages can raise treatment costs even more.Parents of autistic children are often forced to reduce their working hours or even quit their jobs to stay at home and look after their child.Therefore, it is essential to have special health insurance for children diagnosed with ASD.
Fortunately, financial help is at hand. Special insurance policies catering to autistic children are now available and cover all inpatient and outpatient treatments, including therapies such as behavioural, physio, occupational and speech therapies. Parents can customise the policies depending on the specific requirements of their children and their own financial strength.
An ideal Health Insurance for children who are diagnosed of Autism Spectrum Disorder should cover the cost of treatment for seizures, soft tissue and bony injuries, surgical procedures for alleviating the spasm of the muscles, and infectious diseases.
Although Government of India has R1 lakh special health insurance scheme, Niramaya, which caters to the welfare of children with disabilities such as Autism and Cerebral Palsy, there is an urgent need for the Indian insurance sector to offer dedicated polices for Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Dr S Prakash
The author is Chief Operating Officer, Star Health and Allied Insurance
(The views expressed by the author are his own)