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- Is autism brain damage?
- Autistic brains are structured and function differently than normal ones, but autism has not been definitively linked to any environmental factors or trauma. Most experts agree that autistic kids are born that way.
- Is my child retarded?
- Autism and cognitive impairment are separate conditions, though some studies have suggested that a majority of children with autism have IQ scores that fall below the cutoff of around 70 for mental retardation. Hence it may be far more likely than the norm for a child with autism to have cognitive impairment, but it’s not a given or part of the ASD diagnosis.
- Will my child grow out of it?
- No. Autism is a lifelong condition—at this time, the differences in brain structure and chemistry thought to contribute to the disorder can’t be fixed. But behavioral therapy can help teach your child how to function in the world and interact with others at a higher level than he could on his own.
- Will drugs help?
- No drug can cure autism or treat all of the core symptoms of the disorder. But kids with autism often have other mental and behavioral problems that are treatable with medication, and that treatment can positively impact your child’s quality of life and ability to participate in therapies aimed at his autistic behavior. For instance, antidepressants could help a child suffering from depression, which affects some with autism. In other cases, medication can be used to curb aggressive behavior.
- What’s the prognosis?
- Children with autism can improve over time—the question isn’t really whether they will improve but to what degree the disorder will impair development. Experts agree that a young child’s language development is a good gauge of the severity of the disorder—that is, the easier language comes to the autistic child, the less severe the symptoms of the disorder will be later on. Of course, the earlier a child with autism receives treatment, the better the prognosis for his maximizing his potential.