Is It Possible To Recover From Autism?

Is It Possible To Recover From Autism?

Understanding Autism

Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that affect: ● Social ● Behavioral ● Communicative abilities ● Sensory processing abilities Autism is a spectrum disorder – each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges.

Children with autism learn, think and problem-solve in ways that range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some ASD patients may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support or live independently.

The causes behind Autism are unknown in most cases, with a combination of genetic factors and poor health during pregnancy usually held responsible. Early diagnosis and intervention enables the child to learn the skills. Recovery from Autism continues to be studied by medical experts.

Symptoms of Autism Parents may miss the signs of Autism in their child or may assume them to be mere quietness or hyperactivity. Detecting the symptoms early, however, is crucial so that Autism treatment can start early.

Typical early signs include: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Not responding when their name is called Not showing affection to caregivers or responding to affection Not demonstrating or understanding facial expressions Not being able to show empathy Showing delayed speech and language skills Not wanting to play with other children Obsessing with only a few specific toys Getting upset by certain tastes, sounds, or smells Unusual eating or sleeping patterns Exhibiting impulsive, reckless, or potentially harmful behavior Epilepsy or seizure disorders

Diagnosis and treatment for Autism The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children undergo developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months of age. Early intervention can make all the difference for your child with Autism.

If your child has been demonstrating the symptoms of Autism or missing important developmental milestones, your pediatrician should screen the child to assess their behavioral and social abilities.

If they suspect Autism, they may recommend you to a specialist who will conduct a developmental evaluation – several structured tests such as observation, questionnaires filled by caregivers, and direct interactions with the child to test their thinking, decision-making, and other abilities.

Treatment for Autism is tailored to each child’s symptoms and abilities. Some of the commonly used Autism treatments include:

Diagnosis and treatment for Autism ●

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Applied Behavior Therapy (ABA): One of the most effective treatment options for Autism – ABA involves helping children achieve positive goals through reinforcement and repetition and teaching them how to identify and avoid negative behaviors.

Sensory Integration Therapy: This focuses on addressing sensory processing disorders that a child with Autism may have. The goal is to help the child adjust to sensory inputs that they find overwhelming, while moderating the sensory inputs that the child is hyposensitive to.

Occupational Therapy: This type of therapy focuses specifically on teaching the child skills related to daily functioning.

Stem Cell Therapy: This type of therapy uses the patient’s own cells to help the body to heal itself well enough to mitigate the symptoms of the condition for longer periods.

Diet: Many parents may wish to remove certain food groups from the diet of a child with Autism. It is necessary to consult the doctor and ensure that the child’s diet contains all the fiber, lean protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that the child needs for good health.

Can one recover from Autism? ●

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At the University of Connecticut, psychologist Deborah Fein established in a study that about 1 in 5 children on the Autism spectrum may move off that spectrum entirely. An external reviewer assessed her work, which focused on 34 patients between the ages 8 to 21 years who originally had an Autism diagnosis, as well as 34 neurotypical participants. The reviewer correctly determined that the 34 neurotypical people were all non-autistic, while the 34 patients with an Autism diagnosis no longer fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for it. Dr Fein stated that Behavioral Therapy plays a big role in this, especially when started early.

Lisa Gilloty of the National Institute of Mental Health and developmental pediatrician Andrew Adesman also state that some children with Autism may eventually move off the spectrum altogether, and have friends and communicate efficiently as their neurotypical peers.

Can one recover from Autism?

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Critics of the research have pointed out that the children who are declared to be ‘cured’ may simply have been misdiagnosed at the onset or may have had a very mild form of Autism.

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They also add that the study was conducted after the recovery happened, which means that it cannot pinpoint exactly what kind of treatment caused the recovery.

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Another study at Weill Cornell Medical College, however, is seeking to address this by studying 100 people with Autism from age 2 to their early 20s.

Autism remains a condition about which much is yet to be known, and we are a long way out from any conclusive and guaranteed recovery path.

Thank you.