Can Autism Go Away?

Does autism subside with age?

Children with milder autism symptoms related to language skills or social skills might notice faster results from therapy sessions and have a higher chance of autism subsiding as they grow older.

However, this does not mean children with more severe symptoms cannot overcome challenges. Tailored ABA therapy plans and interventions for a child's unique situation can help them overcome growth delays. Regardless of the severity of autism symptoms, early intervention is the most effective way to set a child up for success.

Possible signs of mild autism in children

Mild autism consists of a long list of behavioral patterns. Inconsistent behaviors from one child to another make it difficult to compare recovery rates.

Here are some prominent symptoms of mild autism: 

• Repetitive oral expressiveness (echolalia) or play
• A preoccupation with specific activities, ideas, or concepts
• An unwillingness to engage in new adventures or to disrupt habits
• Phobia of particular forms of communication, especially cuddling or hugging
• Avoidance of eye contact and difficulty initiating or engaging in conversation
• Commonly missing oral or physical signals, such as not looking at where a person is pointing
• Trouble understanding others’ emotions or speaking about feelings in general
• Unwillingness to socialize or actively choosing isolation
• Difficulty in sharing needs or desires
• Random reactions to particular sounds, sights, textures, or smells
• Tantrums or tumultuous aggression with different triggers

Some children with autism may also have:

• Learning disabilities
• Medical disorders such as troubled sleep, gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, or seizures
• Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, or attention deficit disorder

These behaviors are also linked to disorders other than autism, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

How can early intervention help improve autism?

For children with autism, symptoms can show up as early as 8 to 12 months, although many therapists wait until a child is 18 months old for a complete diagnosis, as symptoms may continue to change over time. Even after 18 months autism symptoms may reemerge. 

According to research by the National Institute of Health (NIH), early intervention and ABA therapy for autism can lead to successful long-term positive outcomes for children diagnosed with autism. In addition, early intervention can create better opportunities for children to become independent and succeed in their lives.

Early intervention can help children with autism by:

Building a strong foundation for independent living

Early intervention for children with autism can enhance social and communication skills during the initial years. This helps children be independent as they grow older when language and social skills become more complicated and demanding.

Practicing social skills early

Early intervention helps children practice social skills before going into a high-pressure school environment where the child is expected to know social cues such as waiting for their turn during group activities, becoming a part of a group, and self-control.

The earlier autism intervention starts, the greater the chance a child with non-verbal or other forms of autism will have improved social skills. Many studies found that children with non-verbal autism who get early intervention from a therapist are more likely to become verbal than children who begin autism therapy after 5 years of age.

Developing self-regulation strategies

Children on the autism spectrum usually face challenges in self-regulation such as:

• Dealing with frustration
• Staying quiet
• Identifying the size of a problem
• Performing reasonable reactions

During therapy, children learn how to understand mood swings and handle strong emotions. Parents or caregivers can have the child practice these skills to help the child become more emotionally balanced over time.

Improving cognitive abilities

Thinking and problem-solving are necessary skills a child will learn at all levels of their mental growth. However, for children with autism, cognitive development is usually slowed. Early intervention and autism therapy sessions can target a child’s weak areas through recreational games and other fun exercises that help your child improve their skills.