Controversial Research Suggests Children Can Grow Out Of Their Autism
A new controversial study claims that some children may very well be able to grow out of autism, a condition which can be extremely debilitating to one’s social interactions and ability to function normally.
Tests confirmed that subjects in the group, aged eight to 21, no longer suffered from autism, which can make communication and socialization impossible for some.
The results, published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, do not provide any sort of estimate as to the percentage of children able to “outgrow” the condition, however.
The researchers say they offer hope to at least some, that leaving the debilitating condition behind is a possibility.
“Although the diagnosis of autism is not usually lost over time, the findings suggest that there is a very wide range of possible outcomes,” said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the US National Institute of Mental Health.
“For an individual child, the outcome may be knowable only with time and after some years of intervention. 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 out come for these children.”
Questions about the validity of the study stem from the inconsistency of diagnoses, as many children have mild forms of autism which are easier to overcome.
Still, this study may be the first step to bringing hope to people who previously had none.
Jordan Shepherd | Elite.
