Most kids with autism in early childhood are usually “doing well” in several aspects of life before attaining adulthood, says a recent study. It found that 80% of them had shown improvement in at least one area out of the five skill sets being assessed.
The study which was published in the journal JAMA Open studied the behaviour patterns of more than 250 kids with autism. Aged between 2 and 10, the participants were assessed on five counts namely communication, socialisation, day-to-day living, internalising, and externalising. The study also found that 23% of the children were doing well in four or all five areas by the age of ten years.
Authors of the study said their aim was to focus on the improvements shown by the children rather than on their shortcomings. “By using different criteria to track their development apart from those used to diagnose autism — such as ASD symptoms and cognitive ability — we were able to reframe more holistically how we conceptualized progress in the autism field,” said Dr Peter Szatmari, the lead researcher.
The study also provides a base for further research into getting an insight on what early interventions would work better for the children on the spectrum.
