Article

This study examined cross-sectional population-based rates in reported need
and unmet need for occupational, physical, and speech therapy services in
children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with children with
attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD:
The 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 (USA) National Survey of Children with Special Health
Care data sets were used to compare therapy need and unmet need among children
younger than 18 years with ASD (n=5178), ADHD (n=20 566), and CP (n=1183).
Bivariate approaches and multivariate logistic regression using imputed data were
used to identify associations between child and family characteristics, and
access to therapy services. RESULTS: After adjusting for other variables,
children with ASD had a significantly greater likelihood of having an unmet
therapy need compared with children with ADHD (odds ratio [OR] 1.66, 95%
confidence interval [CI] 1.36-2.03), but a similar unmet need as children with CP
(OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.97-1.74). Factors associated with unmet need included survey
year, younger child age, no health insurance, and increased functional and
behavioral difficulties. INTERPRETATION: Children in our sample had greater unmet
therapy needs in 2009 than in 2005. Caregiver-reported reasons for unmet need
included cost and school resources. Research examining future trends in therapy
access are warranted for children with ASD and CP. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Children
with complex diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy had
reported unmet need for therapy services. High costs of therapy were the primary
reported reason contributing to reduced access among children.
CI - (c) 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS