Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autism

[N918KT]

I saw the news on CNN today showing that there was a study that children with autism outgrew their autism as they grow older with intervention and help. Even though not all children can outgrow their autism, there may be a small number of autistic people who have done that.

I wonder what would happen if they want to learn to fly and get a 3rd class medical if they outgrew their autism. Would there be any difficulty getting a medical if they are not autistic anymore?

 

[momalley]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

Didn't Jenny McCarthy accomplish this with her son?

 

[Old Geek]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

I can't speak to autism in general, but I know quite a bit about Asperger's. Since most Asperger's kids are highly intelligent, many of them can learn proper behavior and social conduct to the point where they cannot be identified as having it by casual friends and associates. Whether this constitutes "outgrowing" it isn't clear.

See the Temple Grandin stuff if you're interested in how far an autistic person can go.

 

[AdamZ]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

KT I'd love to see that study if you have a link that would be great. Personally I'm not sure they can outgrow it but perhaps become more functional with it. I would think that it also depends on how profound a case they have. My guess is however they would not be able to get a 3rd class medical

 

[N918KT]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

KT I'd love to see that study if you have a link that would be great. Personally I'm not sure they can outgrow it but perhaps become more functional with it. I would think that it also depends on how profound a case they have. My guess is however they would not be able to get a 3rd class medical

I can't find the CNN article online but I did find another link that is published today.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2013/01/16/study-some-children-may-outgrow-autism

 

[Ted]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

KT I'd love to see that study if you have a link that would be great. Personally I'm not sure they can outgrow it but perhaps become more functional with it. I would think that it also depends on how profound a case they have. My guess is however they would not be able to get a 3rd class medical

Depends on the situation and the cause. Autism symptoms are very close to heavy metal toxicity. There have been some children whose symptoms have been reversed through treatment that helps the body remove these heavy metals (which normally it has a hard time doing) and then replenishing the vitamins that are lacking.

It's very promising. One of my cousins has a son (now about 20-21 or so - my how time flies) who is autistic. When he was first diagnosed, it was believed he would never be the least bit functional. Then when he was in the ~5 year range, he learned sign language. Around 10 he was speaking. At 18, he graduated high school with a normal public school class, and didn't even need to go to a special school. That's just with tutoring and one-on-one therapy. Hopefully, modern medicine will be able to make autism something that is cured.

 

[AdamZ]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

....

It's very promising. One of my cousins has a son (now about 20-21 or so - my how time flies) who is autistic. When he was first diagnosed, it was believed he would never be the least bit functional. Then when he was in the ~5 year range, he learned sign language. Around 10 he was speaking. At 18, he graduated high school with a normal public school class, and didn't even need to go to a special school. That's just with tutoring and one-on-one therapy. Hopefully, modern medicine will be able to make autism something that is cured.

One can only hope Ted. My wife's job is working with kids with such disabilities in the local elementary school. A vast majority of these kids are "mainstreamed" meaning that they are in class with other kids with no disabilities. Gone are the days of the "Special Ed" class. They do pullouts to give them special therapy etc. My understanding is that the two biggest keys to improvement are early intervention and intensive therapy. There was a very moving video that first played on the news a year or so a go about an autistic girl who finally was able to communicate but only when she sang. ( she'd sing her sentences) she was 100% aware of what was going on it was as if a child with no disabilities was speaking from within her.

 

[Geico266]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

I saw the news on CNN today showing that there was a study that children with autism outgrew their autism as they grow older with intervention and help. Even though not all children can outgrow their autism, there may be a small number of autistic people who have done that.

I wonder what would happen if they want to learn to fly and get a 3rd class medical if they outgrew their autism. Would there be any difficulty getting a medical if they are not autistic anymore?

A very interesting question.

 

[Geico266]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

It's very promising. One of my cousins has a son (now about 20-21 or so - my how time flies) who is autistic. When he was first diagnosed, it was believed he would never be the least bit functional. Then when he was in the ~5 year range, he learned sign language. Around 10 he was speaking. At 18, he graduated high school with a normal public school class, and didn't even need to go to a special school. That's just with tutoring and one-on-one therapy. Hopefully, modern medicine will be able to make autism something that is cured.

That is an amazing story.

 

[texasag93]

Re: Possible way to become normal: autistic children may actually outgrow their autis

I am not a medical professional and did not sleep at a Holiday Inn, but I do sleep with a medical professional.

Autism is like cancer. It is a description of a set of symptoms.

Cancer is so broad that saying that there is a cure for cancer is saying that there is a cure to plane wrecks. We (as pilots) know that the only cure for plane wrecks is for gravity and for other objects that we can come into contact cannot exist.

Cancer as a whole cannot be cured. Segments of cancer can be manipulated to not kill you.

I see from looking at autism over time, that we do not know what causes it. When autism occurs, the degree that it affects each child is different. The effect of different treatments is different for every child.

Early intervention for cancer helps. Early treatment vary for each cancer and patient. It appears to be the same for autism.

Cancer can go into remission, but there you are never 'cured' of cancer.

Getting a Third Class medical is difficult for a diabetic or someone who was diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Autism would be a real stretch.