Can autism go away?
All parents experience stress related to the usual worries and responsibilities associated with raising a child. However, research shows that parents with children on the autism spectrum experience extra levels of stress and concerns that come from:
The stigma of having a child with a visually invisible condition. Strangers staring, and rude comments from people unable to understand that their child’s behavior is not the result of poor parenting skills, are the most common forms.
Self-injurious behaviors not only affect the child, but they are also very painful for parents to go through. Many children on the autism spectrum exhibit them.
Sleeping problems and picky eaters are also common in children diagnosed with ASD.
Financial difficulties associated with the costs of therapy and support for a child with extra needs.
As consequence, after several years of continuous interventions, meetings, evaluations, and appointments, every parent hopes for a cure.
What is autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects communication and social interactions. The individual may also exhibit repetitive behaviors. The spectrum means some people will need significant support in everyday life, and others will be known as gifted in specific areas.
Autism is often diagnosed early in life. Parents are usually the first to recognize odd behaviors in their children, which may include:
Poor eye contact: Most people handle a long time of eye contact when communicating with others. However, for individuals with ASD can be shorter or very brief.
Point to things of interest: Most children will point to objects to get their parent’s attention. If you are often uncertain of what your child wants, it can be also an early sign.
The child does not look at the object when someone points to it or turns back to look at what the adult is pointing to.
The child seems careless about other people's feelings. They are often considered rude because they do not understand the impact of their words or behaviors on others.
Difficulty “reading” social clues.
Difficulty expressing his feelings, especially anger.
The child does not react to people's voices but reacts to other noises.
Children with ASD often exhibit hypersensitivity to noise. You may want to consider a specialist if your child is not reacting to your words even if his hearing is ok.
Some children with ASD do not have the necessity for physical contact. So, often they don’t hug or give cuddles, and when receiving them they just freeze.
Repetitive behaviors.
Lack of pretend/imaginary play.
Difficulty coping with changes in the routine or even changing environments, and activities without notice can be a trigger.
Big sensitivity to sounds, tastes, and textures compared to most individuals.
Is recovery from autism possible?
Autism is a lifelong condition but the quality of life for each person can be greatly improved with the right care and support. There are many areas where parents can assist them to reach better outcomes:
Teach structure and safety skills. Safety is often a concern for kids with ASD. Create a safe space that supports your child when he is feeling overwhelmed.
Consider ABA therapy. ABA teaches your child independence, communication, and social skills.
Learn alternative methods to communicate. It can be signing language, bodily gestures, or pictures. Once you find a way that is beneficial for you two, your relationship will improve as well as your confidence as a parent.
Ask for help and support. Today they are many professionals, organizations, and groups that can assist you and your child.
Does autism gets worse with age?
They are two specific moments in a child’s life that may explain why it seems like it does. First, the teenager leaves/completes the educational structure which has been highly beneficial. Second, once out of school and in adulthood, support is minimal and very difficult to access.
Studies indicate that in old age individuals with ASD may experience a decline in their ability to function. They will show less interest and comprehension of their surroundings.
Is mild autism reversible?
As mentioned before, there is currently no known cure for ASD. Nonetheless, evidence reveals that symptoms can be reduced through a combination of therapies; behavioral, speech, and occupational among others, and in some cases, medical treatment is also necessary. Adolescents who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) may be prescribed medication that can help them control these symptoms.
Does autism run in families?
Autism is known to run in families. Nevertheless, heredity does not completely explain who will develop autism. According to the Autism Society, it exits a genetic vulnerability that makes some individuals more likely to grow on the spectrum, than those without such a genetic combination. The consumption of toxic substances during pregnancy and certain medical conditions are also more destinated to result in an ASD diagnosis.
Best recent findings
The National Institute for Health funded a 2019 study that found a connection between the cerebellum of rodents and their ability to process rewards and social behaviors. It is believed that this finding will help to deepen the scientific understanding of how the brain works in those diagnosed with a variety of conditions including ASD, as abnormalities in the cerebellum have been previously linked to ASD. Scientists are interested in seeing if inputs to the cerebellar neurons could impact social behaviors.
In a 2018 study on neurofeedback, it was shown that children diagnosed with ASD who received neurofeedback while playing a picture puzzle game exhibited spontaneous activation of their social brain circuitry. These findings were seen in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of the participants. The findings were further supported by the parental reports of improved social behaviors among the children in the study. These findings imply that covert neurofeedback may have the potential as an intervention for those diagnosed with ASD.
In other research studies, it was found that an individual’s guts may play a role in the development of ASD. Though the reported study had a very limited sample size (18), researchers indicated that there was a 45% reduction in ASD symptoms in the study’s participants. A 2020 study of children 3-6 found that children treated with bumetanide showed improvement on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale when compared to the control group.
A 2017 study found that functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) may help predict the risk of children as young as 6 months developing ASD by the age of 2. This finding is consistent with the belief that changes occur in the brain of a child before behavioral changes are seen. Such early detection could support early diagnosis and interventions thereby improving the outcomes for children at risk of developing ASD.