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A multi-centre randomised control trial has found that a therapy commenced in infancy (iBASIS-VIPP) could reduce early developmental disability to the point where a childhood clinical autism diagnosis was two-thirds less likely.

Researchers from the and , in partnership with the , and the , have used this clinical trial data to model downstream cost implications for children up to age 13.

Modelling downstream disability support costs to the NDIS system, they predicted that use of the iBASIS-VIPP therapy during infancy would return a net cost savings of $10,695 per child, representing a three-to-one return on investment by age 13.

Lead author, UniSA鈥檚 Professor Leonie Segal, Chair, Health Economics and Social Policy, said the estimated cost savings are conservative as they only covered support costs to the NDIS until a child turned 13, and did not consider cost savings to other systems (eg, health, education, parental employment).

鈥淏y investing in services early in life for babies showing early autism signs 鈥� and thereby reducing levels of disability 鈥� the study predicted a net cost savings of $10,695 per child by age 13 years,鈥� Segal, a health economist, said.

鈥淭he modelling also predicted that savings in support costs associated with disability would balance out therapy costs shortly after the child turned five 鈥� just four years after delivery of the therapy.

鈥淭he findings clearly argue the case that investing in early support for babies represents a good investment for the whole community.鈥�

Telethon Kids Institute鈥檚 Prof Andrew Whitehouse聽鈥� the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at Telethon Kids and the University of Western Australia and Director of CliniKids聽鈥� said autism is not typically diagnosed until three years of age.

鈥淗owever, therapies commencing during the first two years of life 鈥� when the initial signs of development difference are observed, and the brain is rapidly developing聽鈥� can positively impact developmental outcomes in later childhood,鈥� Whitehouse said.

He said many services used the presence or absence of a diagnosis as a 鈥榯rigger鈥� for funding and therapy, but this study reinforces the potential value of therapies prior to a diagnosis.

鈥淒isability associated with autism has cost and quality of life implications for families and may result in extra government spending on areas such as health, education, disability services and income support,鈥� Whitehouse said.

鈥淩educing disability associated with autism can relieve hardship to the individual, and in the process relieve costs to the individual, their family and the broader systems that support them. At a time when NDIS sustainability is of great importance to everyone, these findings are very significant.鈥�

Segal said a challenge for health and disability systems globally is how to allocate finite funding to best support people with a disability, including autistic children and their families.

鈥淥ptimal resource allocation requires an understanding of the benefits versus costs of potential therapies, especially to inform at what age to provide supports,鈥� she said.

鈥淭he study, together with the earlier work on which it builds, provides evidence that pre-emptive therapies are a feasible, effective and an efficient clinical pathway.鈥�

Whitehouse said given that in Australia more than a third of all participants in the NDIS have an autism diagnosis, the implications of these findings are enormous.

鈥淚 want to make it crystal clear that this is about finding the best use of funds to create the best outcomes for children,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he discovery of therapies that reduce the disability experienced by children will often mean that that child requires fewer supports in later childhood. This is fantastic news for the child, their family and the systems that support kids and families.

鈥淭his study is about how to provide the right supports to kids and families at the right time and in the right amount. Understanding this is critical in helping to structure systems to support kids and families when they need it.鈥� The findings have been published in JAMA Network Open.

Image credit: iStockphoto.com/PeopleImages