Children with autism can improve cognition

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Children with autism can improve cognition

Published: Sept. 18, 2010 at 12:02 AM

LONDON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Children with autism vary in cognitive skills but they

often improve over time, Australian and British researchers say.

Study leader Pellicano of the Institute of Education in London says

people with autism spectrum disorders are thought to have a " profile of

cognitive strengths and weaknesses. "

These include problems appreciating the thoughts and feelings of others,

" executive function " difficulties with control and planning, and an ability to

perceive parts or small details. However, she says, few studies have tracked

these skills over a period of years.

" What we know a lot less about is how the cognitive skills of children with

autism spectrum disorders change over time, " Pellicano says in a statement. " In

this study, we found that these skills vary from child to child and also that

some of them can improve over time. "

The study, published in Child Development, finds children's skills in each of

the three areas improved considerably during the study's three years. Most of

the children had more appreciation of others' thoughts and feelings and were

better able to plan, regulate, and control their thoughts and actions.

Pellicano and colleagues assessed 37 children with autism spectrum disorders and

31 typically developing children at age 5 and 6 and again three years later.

© 2010 United Press International, Inc. .