Can children with autism recover? If so, how?

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*1: *Neuropsychol Rev. <javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Neuropsychol

Rev.');> 2008 Dec;18(4):339-66. Epub 2008 Nov 14.Click here to read

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Can children with autism recover? If so, how?

*Helt M*

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed & Cmd=Search & Term=%22Helt%20M%\

22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_Dis\

coveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Kelley E*

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed & Cmd=Search & Term=%22Kelley%20\

E%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_D\

iscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Kinsbourne M*

<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed & Cmd=Search & Term=%22Kinsbourn\

e%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubm\

ed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Pandey J*

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J%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_D\

iscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Boorstein H*

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%20H%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubme\

d_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Herbert M*

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0M%22%5BAuthor%5D & itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_\

DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>,

*Fein D*

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coveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus>.

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

06268, USA, molly.helt@....

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.

PMID: 19009353