Do autistic kids get worse as time goes on?

Question

Basically everyone involved in my son's diagnosis seemed to be very very negative and as far as I can tell my son's autism is not that severe i.e. he can easily be wrote off as slow or different. So why are the docs all down playing his strengths? Makes me think he is at some point going to become retarded-at least that's the way the doc makes it sound. At the time he was diagnosed he was in speech therapy/special playgroups 2x/week and the doc flat out said anything less than 30 hours/week is pointless. Was this doc serious?

Answer 1

Actually with schooling and therapy they can do much better.  Mild Autism can pretty much be outgrown.  Really depends on how severe the case is and what the treatment plan is.  I have worked with Autistic kids that were so severe they were truly lost in their eyes, you couldn't see life in them and they wouldn't really respond then sometimes they would come out of it for a few minutes and function but not on a very high level.  But i have also taken care of Autistic children that by the time they hit first grade you could barely tell they had autism and I have worked with many that were in between.  My stepaunt now works in a school for special needs and her job is to work with Autistic children of all ages and levels of severity.  Don't give up on your son, continue therapy twice a week and maybe see if there is a school around you for autistic children so he can get social time.  It can make a difference in many cases.

Answer 2

In the UK, all children are entitled to 2 and a half free hours per day of free child care in a nursery or preschool setting from the age of 3.  My autistic Nephew (he is now 3 and a half) attends a day nursery unit attached to a school that specialises in dealing with autistic children and he gets one to one attention every day (all day) - my sister doesn't have to pay for this, and the professionals that she has dealt with have been very positive.  His autism is not mild - he can do puzzles and has perfect pitch, can copy tunes exactly, but has no speech at all and real communication problems that are only just starting to improve now.

The paediatrician recommended a lactose and gluten free diet with fish oils, but my sister has gone further than this and is now looking at chelation therapy as tests have revealed high levels of mercury in his body (I am sceptical of this, but he's not my son and it might make a difference).

There is no need for them to be negative - autistic children don't get worse, they grow more mature and learn like any child, just with a different outlook and set of priorities.  I have seen an improvement in behaviour and concentration with my nephew and I see no reason why he won't continue to improve.  I think routine is important for any child, Autistic or not, so maybe a couple of hours every day would help.  But to say less than 30 hours a week is pointless is a strange statement.

Answer 3

You can do a lot at home to help you child, you can try to teach him yourself, change his diet (keep him off of milk for a little while), read to him a lot.  See what makes him focus.  Please do not let doctors discourage you.  I use to work with Grown-ups and children with autism and I've seen the worst.  But there are things that can help them progress, do not give up hope.  Just love your child and don't let anyone tell you that a therapist can do a better job than you.