Related
Stories
 |
| Is a label of autism lifelong? |
Some young children accurately diagnosed as autistic lose their symptoms and their diagnosis as they get older, say US researchers.
The
findings of the National Institutes of Health study of 112 children appears to
challenge the widely held belief that autism is a lifelong condition.
While not
conclusive, the study, in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,
suggests some children might possibly outgrow autism.
But experts
urge caution.
Much more
work is needed to find out what might explain the findings.
Dr Deborah
Fein and her team at the University of Connecticut studied 34 children who had
been diagnosed with autism in early childhood but went on to function as well
as 34 other children in their classes at school.
On tests -
cognitive and observational, as well as reports from the children's parents and
school - they were indistinguishable from their classroom peers. They now
showed no sign of problems with language, face recognition, communication or
social interaction.
For
comparison, the researchers also studied another 44 children of the same age,
sex and non-verbal IQ level who had had a diagnosis of
"high-functioning" autism - meaning they were deemed to be less
severely affected by their condition.
It became
clear that the children in the optimal outcome group - the ones who no longer
had recognisable signs of autism - had had milder social deficits than the
high-functioning autism group in early childhood, although they did have other
autism symptoms, like repetitive behaviours and communication problems, that
were as severe.
The
researchers went back and checked the accuracy of the children's original
diagnosis, but found no reason to suspect that they had been inaccurate.
 |
| Symptoms may be masked as they learn how to adapt to their condition |
The
researchers say there are a number of possible explanations for their findings.
It might be
that some children genuinely outgrow their condition. Or perhaps some can
compensate for autism-related difficulties.
Dr Thomas
Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, said:
"Although the diagnosis of autism is not usually lost over time, the
findings suggest that there is a very wide range of possible outcomes.
"Subsequent
reports from this study should tell us more about the nature of autism and the
role of therapy and other factors in the long term outcome for these
children."
It could be
that autism cannot always be accurately defined or diagnosed, particularly
since the condition affects people in different ways.
Indeed,
experts have disagreed about what autism is.
The
American Psychiatric Association is currently revising its diagnostic manual -
the "bible" for doctors that lists every psychiatric disorder and
their symptoms.
Its new
version proposes changes he UK's National Autistic Society says could affect
the way diagnoses will be given to people on the autism spectrum.
Instead of
using the current terms of autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, childhood
disintegrative disorder and PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not
otherwise specified), people will be given an umbrella diagnosis of
"autism spectrum disorder".
And their
impairments will be reduced to two main areas - social
communication/interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour,
interests, or activities.
Most
diagnoses in the UK are based on the International Classification of Diseases
(ICD), published by the World Health Organization, which is up for revision in
2015.
According
to the National Autistic Society, more than one in every 100 people, more than
500,000 people in all, in the UK have autism.
About a
fifth, an estimated 106,000, are school-aged children.
Dr Judith
Gould, director of the National Autistic Society's Lorna Wing Centre for
Autism, said: "Autism is a lifelong disability affecting the way that
people communicate and interact with others.
"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.
"With
intensive therapy and support, it's possible for a small sub-group of high
functioning individuals with autism to learn coping behaviours and strategies
which would 'mask' their underlying condition and change their scoring in the
diagnostic tests used to determine their condition in this research.
"This research
acknowledges that a diagnosis of autism is not usually lost over time and it is
important to recognise the support that people with autism need in order to
live the lives of their choosing."
She said
getting a diagnosis could be a critical milestone for children with autism and
their families, often helping parents to understand their children better and
helping them to support their children in reaching their full potential.
(Subjects: You are looking at a Quantum event, clearing a filter - Portal pineal , Higher self to step forward and communicate to You, Still remains in 3D but exposure to multi dimensions, Evolution of humanity, Intent, Mayan Calendar, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, 26.000 Years, Milky Way, Nostradamus, 1987, Beginning to a New Time, Channellers/Teachers, Center of Galaxy – Black hole, Bridge of Swords, Pleiadians, Children, Inventions – The discoveries (e.g. : Airplanes - Medicines – Radio .. ): These new Discoveries were given all over the planet when Human consciousness was ready for it. New Inventions are coming, the timing depends on how the middle East problems are solved, Biology reaction of quantum energy; new radio of the future, seeing quantum energy, when it is revealed all science books will have to be rewritten, This will be an AHA moment – be possible to communicate with the rest of Galaxy, NASA, Church/Religion will be effected the most by these discoveries, The quantum discovery will see the grid, life, gardens and will redefine life, DNA (3 billion pieces) evolving piece DNA are chancing, Gaia/Humanity are linked, new instruments will start to reveal the DNA variance, Evolution revealed: Autistic children have born with the removal of their 3D structure in the brain, Gaia/Spirit are testing these quantum beings (Evolved DNA), Universe central clock = Rifs, Globally there will be only 5 currencies, Wars on earth will be declared barbaric, Middle East, Global Unity, .. etc.)
(Subjects: You are looking at a Quantum event, clearing a filter - Portal pineal , Higher self to step forward and communicate to You, Still remains in 3D but exposure to multi dimensions, Evolution of humanity, Intent, Mayan Calendar, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, 26.000 Years, Milky Way, Nostradamus, 1987, Beginning to a New Time, Channellers/Teachers, Center of Galaxy – Black hole, Bridge of Swords, Pleiadians, Children, Inventions – The discoveries (e.g. : Airplanes - Medicines – Radio .. ): These new Discoveries were given all over the planet when Human consciousness was ready for it. New Inventions are coming, the timing depends on how the middle East problems are solved, Biology reaction of quantum energy; new radio of the future, seeing quantum energy, when it is revealed all science books will have to be rewritten, This will be an AHA moment – be possible to communicate with the rest of Galaxy, NASA, Church/Religion will be effected the most by these discoveries, The quantum discovery will see the grid, life, gardens and will redefine life, DNA (3 billion pieces) evolving piece DNA are chancing, Gaia/Humanity are linked, new instruments will start to reveal the DNA variance, Evolution revealed: Autistic children have born with the removal of their 3D structure in the brain, Gaia/Spirit are testing these quantum beings (Evolved DNA), Universe central clock = Rifs, Globally there will be only 5 currencies, Wars on earth will be declared barbaric, Middle East, Global Unity, .. etc.)
No comments:
Post a Comment