Autism: One in 10 'get better'

Published on Saturday 9 May 2009 01:51

A SMALL but provocative US study suggests at least 10 per cent of children with autism overcome the disorder by the age of nine – most of them after undergoing years of intensive behavioural therapy.

Sceptics question the phenomenon, but University of Connecticut psychology professor Deborah Fein is among those convinced it's real.

She presented research this week at an autism conference in Chicago on 58 children, including 20 who, according to "rigorous" analysis, got a correct diagnosis but years later were no longer considered autistic.

Among them was Leo Lytel of Washington, a boy who once made no eye contact, who echoed words said to him and often spun around in circles – all classic autism symptoms. Now he is an articulate, social third-grader. His mother, Jayne Lytel, says his teachers call Leo "a leader".

The study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, involves children aged nine to 18.

Autism researcher Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of the advocacy group Autism Speaks, called Ms Fein's research a breakthrough.

"But we're at a very early stage in terms of understanding the phenomenon," Ms Dawson warned.