To the Editor: Childhood communication disorders (CCD) affect up to 20% of 4-year-old children.1 Early intervention is important2 and a variety of health and education professionals may provide assistance, including speech pathologists (SPs), paediatricians, general practitioners and others. The type and amount of help provided to preschool-aged children in Australia is unknown, nor are the costs empirically described. Using data from the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS),1,3 a prospective study of a large Australian cohort of children, we describe the use of services for CCD, out-of-pocket costs to families and costs to the health system.
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- 1. Reilly S, Wake M, Ukoumunne OC, et al. Predicting language outcomes at 4 years of age: findings from Early Language in Victoria Study. Pediatrics 2010; 126: e1530-e1537.
- 2. Bishop DV, Edmundson A. Language-impaired 4-year-olds: distinguishing transient from persistent impairment. J Speech Hear Disord 1987; 52: 156-173.
- 3. Reilly S, Eadie P, Bavin EL, et al. Growth of infant communication between 8 and 12 months: a population study. J Paediatr Child Health 2006; 42: 764-770.
- 4. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Medicare Benefits Schedule Book. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing, 2009. http://www. health.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/872486C80A 6045E2CA25764D001BB52A/$File/200911-MBS.pdf (accessed Aug 2011).
- 5. Yooralla. You can make a difference. Melbourne: Yooralla, 2009. http://www.yooralla.com.au/canihelp.php (accessed Nov 2009).
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Research at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) is supported by the Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Program. Our study is supported by project grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and small grants from MCRI and La Trobe University. NHMRC grants support Jemma Skeat (Population Health Capacity Building Grant), Melissa Wake (Population Health Career Development Grants) and Sheena Reilly (Practitioner Research Fellowship).
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