Autism treatment in South Asia can be expensive for several interconnected reasons:
1. Deficit of Competent Professionals
There is not enough availability of professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, behavioral therapists (e.g., ABA therapists), and developmental pediatricians.
It drives the cost of services up because demand far exceeds supply.
2. Insufficient Public Healthcare Coverage
Most South Asian countries do not have comprehensive government-funded programs for autism services.
Families are forced to make repeated use of private clinics or pay out-of-pocket, making regular therapy prohibitive.
3. Specialized Tools & Resources Importation
Sensory toys, AAC (communication tools), and therapy tools are traditionally imported, hence extremely costly.
Autism-focused resources have restricted local manufacture.
4. Urban-Centric Services
Most centers and professionals who do therapy are all located in major cities.
Parents from a rural town or village must go out of town or even move, generating more living and transport expenses.
5. Insufficient Insurance Coverage
Most frequently, health insurance does not cover therapies or developmental disabilities in most of the South Asian nations.
Parents are left to pay from diagnosis through ongoing therapy out of pocket.
6. Low Awareness and Misdiagnosis
Due to lack of awareness, children are diagnosed late.
Late intervention requires more long-term and more intensive therapy, which is costly.
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