Jun 5, 2009 5:26 pm US/Central
Recovering From Autism Possible, Research Shows
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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It's estimated that 1 in every 166 children will be diagnosed with autism, but new research shows that a small percentage of kids who once had the condition have actually recovered from it and are no longer considered autistic.
AP
It's estimated that 1 in every 166 children will be diagnosed with autism, but new research shows that a small percentage of kids who once had the condition have actually recovered from it and are no longer considered autistic, CBS station WCBS-TV reported.
Jake Exkorn is like any 12-year-old who was once diagnosed with autism. As a baby he developed normally, but near the age of 2 he regressed.
"He didn't want hugs anymore and he stopped playing, and by his second birthday, he stopped speaking," said his mother, Karen Siff Exkorn.
Karen Exhorn hired therapists to work with him, and after two years of intense behavioral training, he made great strides.
At the age of 4, doctors tested him.
"She said, 'Your son has fully recovered from autism,'" Karen said.
Professor Deborah Fein at the University of Connecticut is studying kids like Exkorn and is finding that recovery is more common than first thought. But she has yet to find a common thread among the children, WCBS-TV reported.
Some kids recover faster than other. While most who recovered had therapy, others didn't.
Fein is now studying their brain chemistry for answers.
"There is something biological going on with the children that we have not figured out yet," said Fein.
Exkorn doesn't have clear memories from that time.
"I don't exactly remember having autism, what it was like," he said.
But if researchers can figure out why he recovered and other kids don't, it could provide a valuable new understanding of the mysterious illness.
Treatment for autism depends on the symptoms, which are different for each child and may change over time. Behavioral and speech therapy, as well as dietary changes and medications are the mainstays of treatment. They are most effective when started early.
Autism is usually diagnosed by the time a child is 4-years old. And if a child gets through age 5 with no sign of autistic symptoms, it is unlikely they will develop the illness.
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