Has a doctor told you that your little one has autism? It's normal for a parent to feel scared, sad, and full of questions when they hear the news. "What will my child's future be like?" "Will he never be able to be like other children?" "What do we do now?" You may be wondering. However, a recent, important medical study has brought a glimmer of hope to our hearts. So today, let's talk about this new discovery and what you can learn from it as a parent of a child with autism.
What does this new study say?
A study conducted by researchers at Boston Children's Hospital in the United States has found something very surprising. That is, more than a third (37%) of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in childhood have outgrown the symptoms by the age of 6 .
The study involved 213 children who were diagnosed with ASD between the ages of 1 and 3. These children were diagnosed at an average age of 2 ½ years. These children were retested between the ages of 5 and 7. That's when these surprising results were seen.
This means that a diagnosis given at an early age is not something that applies to the child's entire life and cannot be changed.
What treatment did these children receive?
What is very important in this study is that every child diagnosed with the condition received some form of intervention. The most commonly used intervention is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) .
So what is ABA?
Simply put, this involves increasing positive behaviors that help your child develop and decreasing negative behaviors that don't help them. For example, teaching your child to look at others, talk, smile, and ask for what they want is good behavior. Also, reducing things like being alone and doing the same things over and over again is part of this treatment.
Through this ABA therapy, a child:
- Communication skills
- Attention and focus
- Socializing skills
- Learning skills
It has been proven that many things can be improved. So, this shows us how important it is to diagnose the disease early and start this type of treatment that is appropriate for the child.
What are the characteristics of children who have recovered from illness?
Another interesting finding from this study was that there were some differences between children who recovered from ASD and those who continued to have the condition. Let's look at this information in a table.
| Characteristic | What children with ASD have experienced |
|---|---|
| Femininity/masculinity | Increased likelihood of having female children (ASD is usually more common in male children). |
| Daily skills | When the disease is first diagnosed, the child has a high level of 'baseline adaptive functioning'. That is, they are slightly better than other children at daily tasks such as speaking, dressing themselves, and making decisions. |
| Intelligence Quotient (IQ) | All children in this group had an IQ score of 70 or higher (an IQ below 70 is considered a sign of intellectual disability). |
This suggests that there may be a relationship between a child's initial abilities and their response to treatment .
What lesson should we as parents learn from this?
The results of this study may have given you a little more hope. That's a good thing. According to Dr. Elizabeth Hasted, one of the study's lead researchers, it's important for parents to keep an open mind.
"It's important to understand that as a child grows, even their diagnoses can change. Some children can have really big changes in their social communication and behavior. So, it's essential that we continue to monitor children and adjust treatment as needed," she says.
The main message we can take from this is:
- Don't give up hope: Just because your child has ASD doesn't mean it's the end of their life. With the right support and treatment, they can make amazing progress.
- Communicate with your doctor regularly: Talk to your doctor about your child's progress, any problems you may have, and everything else. "Doctor, he seems to be doing a little better now," "Doctor, he's got this new habit," and so on.
- Early treatment is crucial: If you notice any changes in your child's behavior, such as not playing with other children, not making eye contact when talking, or not speaking in an age-appropriate manner, don't delay in seeking medical advice. The sooner the disease is diagnosed, the better the results of treatment.
Take-Home Message
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may not always be a lifelong, unchangeable condition, and new studies are providing hope.
- Once a child is diagnosed with ASD, it is important to begin appropriate treatment as soon as possible . Behavioral therapies, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), have been shown to be particularly effective.
- Discuss your child's progress with your doctor regularly . Treatment may need to be changed as your child grows.
- Every child is different. So don't compare your child's progress with another child. The most important thing is to support your child with patience and love .
- Please understand that this study is only a hope, not a guarantee that applies to everyone. Therefore, it is essential to rely on scientifically based medical advice .
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