Outgrowing autism
Is it possible for some high functioning children to outgrow autism?My son is 5 years old and has received what I consider to be the bareminimum intervention and therapy. His language and communicationimprove on a daily basis. His social skills have improved greatly.Hewas tested recently using a LAP-R test and scored poorly (36 months),but there were many things he failed that he can do. He just would notdo them on command, therefore they had to count against him. The factthat he is a computer wiz, was not part of the normal testing for a 5year old. That alone would have made his scores increase.
This post tagged as: autism
Clark Likins said,
Wrote on February 24, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
It sounds a lot like my child. I do not think anyone would think he isautistic now. His stimming behavior has calmed down, but his languageis great, and he is showing real emotions. He also regularly kicks mybutt with video games.
Keep in mind, I think autism is a chemical process. If anyone is giventhe right (or wrong) chemical mix, they become autistic. If the nervecells in the brain and elsewhere are able to be develop properly, achild has a real chance. My wife has told me that a kid has a chanceto not be autistic if aggresively treated before age 6, and she gotthat from our O.T.
I think the GFCF diet did the most good, but we also used headphones,got a great Occupational Therapist, and did weekly craino sacraltreatments. Our son entered kindegarten at the local public schoolthis fall, and he has been doing fine. Outside of his diet, we haveneither requested nor needed any special attention.
Maida Tumaneng said,
Wrote on February 24, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Hi that is my situation too. Just want to know what iscraniosacral therapy
Salvatore Thangavelu said,
Wrote on February 25, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
My son is doing great too, with very little support. He’s 16, is takingchallenging academic courses, and his only modification is extra time for tests.He also participates in after school clubs, no longer eats lunch alone, and evenhas a date for the senior prom. He still has some characteristics of autism,but mostly the good ones.
At 3 he was hyperlexic, but practically non-verbal, and had fine and grossmotor delays.
I agree that autism is primarily a chemical process that causes sensoryintegration problems, which in turn cause delays in social development. I alsothink it matters a LOT the age of the child when all of these symptoms develop. We have extended family members that I believe have similar things going onbiochemically, but they didn’t start having problems until adolescence or later.They have problems but they’re not autistic.
In my son’s case, I think what helped was the diet & supplements (that he’sbeen on since he was about 4 or 5 years old), sensory integration work(including OT, vision therapy and sound therapy), combined with support early onto develop social skills. I wish we had discovered Relationship DevelopmentIntervention earlier, but better late than never. He also had craniosacraltherapy with a chiropractor, but it’s not clear if it helped or not. (It’s hardto tell ’cause we did a lot of therapies in a relatively short period of time.) I do believe that he is doing better than many kids his age that I’ve heardabout that had a similar early history. The biggest difference between what myson has had and what those kids have had is the diet/nutritional stuff.
Kathyrn Buford said,
Wrote on February 27, 2007 @ 6:05 am
My name is Alissa and I have a 3 year old son who is mildlyautistic and I noticed you were doing cranio sacral treatments foryour son and I am very interested in this process. My son is alsodoing great, but I’m wondering if this would make things evenbetter. What is your experience with this treatment?
Marcelino Frias said,
Wrote on February 27, 2007 @ 9:38 am
I have never heard of anyone outgrowing autism. In fact without enoughor the right interventions, some kids can actually get worse. Mycousin’s autistic daughter (and i would have to say she is moderate -she has receptive language, no real speech or language, but doesn’trock and flap either) has only received what the school system givesand nothing more. She made progress in the beginning but now that sheis in the 3rd grade she isn’t progressing more so they are recommendingthe special school district.
Our daughter receives what i call minimal intervention and is beingintegrated into regular kindergarten. However, i don’t think it wouldbe possible without her diet, occupational therapy and sensory diet.