Some children may lose autism diagnosis with age, gov't study finds

Some children diagnosed with autism in early childhood may no longer have the disorder as they grow older, according to research funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"Although the diagnosis of autism is not usually lost over time, the findings suggest that there is a very wide range of possible outcomes," said Dr. Thomas R. Insel, NIMH director, said in a press release. "For an individual child, the outcome may be knowable only with time and after some years of intervention."

Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disorders that cause behavioral, social and communication problems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate one in 88 children have an ASD.

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Headlines: Report says kids can grow out of autism

The new study looked at 34 children between 8 and 21 who had an "optimal outcome," meaning they were diagnosed with autism earlier in life but functioned normally compared to their peers later on. These subjects were matched by age, sex, and nonverbal IQ with 44 children with high-functioning autism and an additional 34 typically developing peers.

The researchers reviewed their initial diagnoses to make sure they were accurate and enlisted a second diagnostic expert, who didn't know the child's status, to review reports where the initial diagnosis had been removed.

What they discovered was the "optimal outcome" children had milder social problems than those in the high-functioning autism group in early childhood. Verbal IQ of "optimal outcome" children were slightly higher than high-functioning autism individuals. However when it came to communication and behavioral problems, there were similarities to the high-functioning subjects.

The researchers then examined all the subjects using standard cognitive tests and parent questionnaires. The "optimal outcome" children were all in regular education classes with no special education aimed at autism. The whole group showed no signs of problems with language, face recognition, communication, and social interaction.

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Researchers cannot speculate which percentage of children will outgrow their ASD, but they are hoping that through the research they gathered they can see whether the diagnosis changed because brain function normalized or the brain was able to make up for autism-related deficiencies.

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"All children with ASD are capable of making progress with intensive therapy, but with our current state of knowledge most do not achieve the kind of optimal outcome that we are studying," study author Deborah Fein, a professor at the Department of Psychology at University of Connecticut, said in a press release. "Our hope is that further research will help us better understand the mechanisms of change so that each child can have the best possible life."

The study published Jan. 16 in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

Researchers are also looking at which therapies led to the most success. Fein told HealthDay she believed behavioral treatments were the most likely to result in an "optimal outcome." However, even for children that lose the diagnosis, she said that parents should not stop therapy "prematurely" since these children are still at risk for attention problems and anxiety.

"But I want to point out that this is the result of years of hard work," she added. "This is not anything that happens overnight. I would say that at minimum we're talking about two to three years of intensive therapy to produce this outcome, but it could also be five years. It's variable.

"This is the first solid science to address this question of possible recovery, and I think it has big implications," added Dr. Sally Ozonoff of the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, who was not involved in the study, to the New York Times. "I know many of us as would rather have had our tooth pulled than use the word 'recover,' it was so unscientific. Now we can use it, though I think we need to stress that it's rare."

But, other experts warned that parents shouldn't get their hopes up that their child will outgrow their diagnosis.

"This study is looking at a small sample of high functioning people with autism and we would urge people not to jump to conclusions about the nature and complexity of autism, as well its longevity," Dr. Judith Gould, director of the National Autistic Society's Lorna Wing Centre for Autism, told the BBC. "With intensive therapy and support, it's possible for a small sub-group of high functioning individuals with autism to learn coping behaviors and strategies which would 'mask' their underlying condition and change their scoring in the diagnostic tests used to determine their condition in this research."

[Volpe93]

I grew out of autism, miracles do happen I wrote an autography

https://www.createspace.com/Member/MessageCenter.do

[Volpe93]

sorry that link doesn't work this is the link.

http://www.amazon.com/Odd-Ball-Out-Daniel-Volpe/dp/0578097273/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359215121&sr=8-1&keywords=daniel+volpe

[nosnobs]

This autism diagnosis is running rampant. If a kid is shy or can't cope, he has autism! All the drama. Give me a break. What BS.

[MaryD-V]

Autism is overdiagnosed - it is today's ADD/ADHD.

In my day, today's autism was really spoiled bratism.

[Volpe93]

it is over diagnosed, They said I was never going to function in society and look at me now. I have a normal life and I wrote a book about it so yea I definetly think its an overrating to the max.

[nosnobs]

I don't believe in autism. These are just parents blaming a made-up disorder for their child's psychological problem. Too much daycare crap and these kids get screwed up, not loved and nurtured into being sociable and then the spoiled brat parents blame it on this crap and the dumb docs go right along with it. What a sad thing.

[snacksmc]

Wow, your reply is very judgemental and angry. Not sure why. I am the father of a child with high functioning autism. He has/is growing up in a very loving family with a stay at home mom. No day care and plenty of social interaction.

So you are either a troll and I took the bait, or just a very angry/closed minded person. AFterall, we can't all be as wonderful as you. In either case, I feel sorry for you. And yes, what a sad thing.

[hc73]

You must not be a parent with ASD.
Once you have a child with ASD you will realize
it is not a made-up disorder. It's real.

[julianpenrod]

An entirely consistent alternative is that the "diagnoses" of "autism" were erroneous to begin with. "Autism" is always viewed as a fundamental developmental problem with the brain, and "science" claims there is no indication of any tendency of such maladies to correct themselves, and children with "autism" are considered unable to think enough outside themselves to try to personally adopt a mode of behavior that comports more with society as a whole. As more and more children prove not to be so disabled, that is, as the evidence that "autism" is all a lie becomes harder and harder to hide, they will probably describe more "growing out of it".

[Mikzy]

Yeah, these people can make progress if given the right intervention. I have this condition and I used to be a social "freak" before I realized what was wrong with me. However, my uncle also has the condition, as well as my father, and they're still suffering from the condition. I'm in college getting an Economics degree and both of them are living at home with their parents, my grandparents. I'm still a socially awkward person but I've learned to manage this condition, because of intervention, better than they ever knew how to manage it. I've been getting "therapy" for about a year now, and I've made loads of progress, socially and otherwise. There is hope for these people if they're not simply left to stew in their own misery.

[OldProfessor]

It seems these folks are what have been known for decades as "late bloomers'. My department back in the 1960's had guidelines for the acceptance of 'late bloomers' into our graduate program. Based upon more recent experience with Aspergers, I suspect Aspergers were a portion of our 'late bloomers'.

[GhostofA]

As an Autistic this is the most sane response I have heard all day, better than the screaming whinging, activist parents ramming Autism Speaks and Cure Autism down my throat.

[ricksmalley]

It is completely possible for autistic children to make progress to the point of leading a normal life! There's a lot of new science. See the list of 7 Autism Implications which can help young parents at www.WhyAutismHappens.com (The 7th Implication is a bit surprising to people who understand autism.)