Can Children with Autism Recover? If So, How?

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Can Children with Autism Recover? If So, How?

JournalNeuropsychology Review

PublisherSpringer Netherlands

ISSN1040-7308 (Print) 1573-6660 (Online)

IssueVolume 18, Number 4 / December, 2008

DOI10.1007/s11-9

Pages339-366

Subject CollectionBehavioral Science

SpringerLink DateFriday, November 14, 2008

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Can Children with Autism Recover? If So, How?

Molly Helt1 , Kelley2, Marcel Kinsbourne3, Juhi Pandey4, Boorstein1, Martha Herbert5 and Deborah Fein1

(1)

Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06268, USA

(2)

Department of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

(3)

Department of Psychology, New School, New York, NY, USA

(4)

Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

(5)

Department of Neurology and TRANSCEND Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, town, MA, USA

Received: 2 September 2008 Accepted: 11 September 2008 Published online: 14 November 2008

Abstract Although

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are generally assumed to be lifelong,

we review evidence that between 3% and 25% of children reportedly lose

their ASD diagnosis and enter the normal range of cognitive, adaptive

and social skills. Predictors of recovery include relatively high

intelligence, receptive language, verbal and motor imitation, and motor

development, but not overall symptom severity. Earlier age of diagnosis

and treatment, and a diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not

Otherwise Specified are also favorable signs. The presence of seizures,

mental retardation and genetic syndromes are unfavorable signs, whereas

head growth does not predict outcome. Controlled studies that report

the most recovery came about after the use of behavioral techniques.

Residual vulnerabilities affect higher-order communication and

attention. Tics, depression and phobias are frequent residual

co-morbidities after recovery. Possible mechanisms of recovery include:

normalizing input by forcing attention outward or enriching the

environment; promoting the reinforcement value of social stimuli;

preventing interfering behaviors; mass practice of weak skills;

reducing stress and stabilizing arousal. Improving nutrition and sleep

quality is non-specifically beneficial.