Answers to Your Questions About Autism (part 3)

Q: My 3 year old is autistic. Will his symptoms get worse as he gets older?

Posted by: Janice

Dear Janice,

Without intervention, the symptoms will undoubtedly get worse over time. The earlier the intervention begins, the better the outcome will be. The first few years in a child’s life are critical. The brain is developing its capacity for everything from vision to speech to muscle control. And, just as important, it is developing the ability to think and feel deeply. The child who, for whatever reason, is not attending to the social and emotional world around him is not learning all the things children must learn by imitating and interacting with other people. He is missing the foundation for basic social skills and the building blocks for broader learning. The long-term effects can be devastating.

With the appropriate intervention, the symptoms can be reduced significantly and potentially disappear altogether. Current treatment approaches offer real hope and real improvement, and even the possibility of recovery, as autism is treatable.This treatment should take a comprehensive integrative approach, consisting of appropriate clinical, educational, and biomedical treatments.

Sincerely,
Nancy D. Wiseman