A study by University of Connecticut researchers has found that some children diagnosed with autism at a young age improved to a point where they no longer had symptoms of the disorder.
Dr. Deborah Fein, a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at UConn led the study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Fein says researchers recruited thirty-four children from mild to severe autism who are now considered to have had an optimal outcome. She says that means they no longer exhibit symptoms of autism spectrum disorders like limited communication and social skills.
"They had significant autism, clearly diagnosed autism and now they have really moved off of the spectrum."
Researchers will continue to study this group of children to determine the kinds of intervention and treatments they received and what effect it may have had on the symptoms disappearing.
Fein stresses this study is not about children with autism who have "outgrown" the disorder.
"And to also understand that this optimal outcome where kids are off the spectrum is not achievable by most children. They can all make progress with good intervention. Their behavior, communication, social relationships can improve but they can't reach move off the spectrum it s a minority who can."
She also says parents with older autistic children should not think this study's findings indicates they could have done things differently. Fein says every case is different and parents should focus on how to help their individual child reach his or her own potential.
The full study is published in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
