Social and economic impact of communication needs

A study has used a longitudinal survey of 5000 children and young people in Australia to track the antisocial behaviour and crime-risk trajectory of children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The research revealed that young people with ‘identified’ SLCN have an elevated risk of youth antisocial behaviour and crime.

Even more significantly, the research discovered that with identification and subsequent intervention for SLCN, there was less juvenile antisocial behaviour and lower youth juvenile contacts.

The projects researchers Dr Rebecca Addo from the Faculty of Health’s Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation and Dr Paula Cronin say, “Our findings reveal that young people with SLCN have an elevated risk of youth antisocial behaviour and crime.

“However, the identification of SLCN (and subsequent treatment) leads to changes in the offending risk trajectory for these individuals, resulting in lower rates of youth antisocial behaviour and consequently lower rates of crime.”

Prior to the study Dr Addo reveals, there was very little known about the cost savings associated with Speech Pathology interventions on subsequent youth antisocial behaviour and crime.

Through the study the researchers forecast the potential lifetime cost savings associated with early identification and intervention as A$9.2 million (95% CI = A$2.05 million, A$20.1 million) (US$6.8 million, €5.6 million, £5.1 million) in terms of cost savings to the justice system.

This important research was recently awarded the editors prize for best International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders (IJLCD) paper June 2021 – May 2022, with the announcement made at the annual IJLCD lecture on 23 June 2022.

The IJLCD editor’s prize is awarded for the best article published in the year’s volume; selecting a paper with rigorous methods, the potential for important impact and filling a much-needed evidence gap.

The researcher’s hope the findings will provide much needed evidence for the positive impact speech pathology interventions can have on the lives of young people.

Stakeholders can present this evidence to decision makers to secure more funding for speech pathology interventions especially for youth offenders with SLCN.

Dr Addo says, “Speech pathology interventions delivered in a range of different settings have demonstrated short-term gains in language and communication skills and more favourable behavioural outcomes.

“Understanding the antisocial behaviour of youth with SLCN, their exposure to crime and the associated costs would better inform policy on interventions.

“Such interventions not only lead to cost savings, but also serve to protect the young person with SLCN from consequences of their impairment, such as contact with the justice system, under-employment and low educational attainment."

Read the full article: Interactions with youth justice and associated costs for young people with speech, language and communication needs (opens external website)