Economic cost of language disorders in childhood: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the economic burden of language disorders (LDs) on families and identify key contributing factors, including time to diagnosis, parental education, and household income. We investigated whether a delay in diagnosis leads to increased costs.

Method

We surveyed 110 families of children aged 3–17 years diagnosed with LDs, assessing direct and indirect costs alongside factors such as parental education, household income, and time to diagnosis.

Results

Findings highlight the financial impact of LD, with an annual mean cost of SR 9862 for out-of-pocket LD-related therapeutic services, SR 4796 for out-of-pocket medical expenses, and SR 2132 for expenses related to travel to healthcare facilities. Regression analysis revealed that time to diagnosis and maternal education were the strongest predictors of total healthcare-related costs, including medical expenses and therapeutic services. Delayed diagnosis significantly increased the financial burden, with families of late-diagnosed children incurring an average additional annual cost of SR 6793. Each additional year of parental education reduced annual total costs by SR 3995, accounting for 23 % of the total cost.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the financial strain on families of children with LDs, particularly those with lower maternal education and delayed diagnoses. Notably, early diagnosis was associated with significant annual financial savings, reducing total costs by an average of SR 6793 per year. The results highlight the importance of early intervention policies and accessible support systems to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes for children with LDs.