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18 - The Economic Impact of Low Language Ability in Childhood

from Part Three - Impact, Intervention and Equity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2022

By
Ha N.D Le ,
Fiona Mensah ,
Patricia Eadie ,
Sheena Reilly  and
Lisa Gold
Edited by
James Law ,
Sheena Reilly  and
Cristina McKean
James Law
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Sheena Reilly
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Queensland
Cristina McKean
Affiliation:
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
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Summary

Low language ability has profound implications for education outcomes, employment opportunities, health literacy, parenting, and social inequalities. However, little is known about the economic impact of children experiencing low language on health, education and employment systems, specifically for children with low language that persists over time. This book chapter examines the impact of low language on service use and costs from early childhood to adolescence (4–13 years) using data from a longitudinal community-based Australian study, the Early Language in Victoria Study. Patterns of different service use and costs associated with low language from 4’13 years were described. Under-servicing (child had identified needs but did not access services) and over-servicing (child used services but had no identified needs) were examined. Key predictors for the use of services associated with low language, such as parental concern about their child’s speech and language and financial barriers, were also explored. The chapter concludes with a discussion about the findings, their clinical and policy implications, and future directions for research and practice, together with the strengths and limitations of the study.

Keywords

low languageeconomic impactcostservice use/utilisationpatterns of service useover-servicingunder-servicing
Type
Chapter
Information
Language Development
Individual Differences in a Social Context
 , pp. 420 - 442
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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