Autism - A "Recoverable Disorder" ?

[Thirteen]

I ran across a local center that focuses on behavioral and cognitive therapy as a means of early intervention with children, diagnosed with autism.
I thought that was a fantastic idea, until I read that they believe it is a "recoverable disorder."
As some of you might know, my brother (25) is autistic, high-functioning. Maybe I'm misinterpreting this too much, but when I read that, I felt discouraged, because it sounds like the center is suggesting it is a CURABLE problem.
I do not believe autism is curable.

Is that what they are claiming?
(I'm asking because a friend of mine mentioned it in passing, and wants to have her child tested).

[diggitydot]

Yeah, I think it hinges on what they mean by "recoverable". There is no cure, whatsoever, but early intervention and therapies can be exceedingly helpful for some people.

[MrsK]

I have no idea what they mean by "recoverable". Do they have a website?

[PrincessFiona]

Recoverable? I also wonder what they mean. I have experienced that some on the spectrum can learn appropriate behaviors and have an improved quality of life ...

[GrayMatterWife]

Does "recoverable" mean "curable"? If so, why don't the say "curable"?

Honestly, it sounds like the "pray the gay away" mentality of some homosexuality therapists. Wishful thinking on the part of the proponent.

[Deebs]

It's the Jenny McCarthy theory of autism. Change diet, give some supplements and boom! Cure. A lot of those pushing this are saying it's the "biomedical" interventions (so not the PT, OT that we associate with improving function of people with autism) that is the cure or recovery. I think "recovery" is actually beyond a cure - the autism will be gone, and the person will regain function that was once there and was lost.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Wasn't the crazy Brit who started the "vaccines cause autism" theory practicing in TX at one point? I wonder I you're running into his ilk.

[scrub-jay]

It's the Jenny McCarthy theory of autism. Change diet, give some supplements and boom! Cure. A lot of those pushing this are saying it's the "biomedical" interventions (so not the PT, OT that we associate with improving function of people with autism) that is the cure or recovery. I think "recovery" is actually beyond a cure - the autism will be gone, and the person will regain function that was once there and was lost.

This is what I was going to say. Didn't McCarthy say her son was cured of his autism completely by taking probiotics?

[scrub-jay]

Wasn't the crazy Brit who started the "vaccines cause autism" theory practicing in TX at one point? I wonder I you're running into his ilk.

Andrew Wakefield?

[Thirteen]

MrsK:
http://www.hopecenter4autism.com/

It's on the front page.





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[Thirteen]

We saw Paul Offitt give an informative talk in OC 2 years ago, on vax. He had a long segment on why vax doesn't cause autism, and did a great job.

With people like him out there, I am wondering how centers like this can make that claim?



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[scrub-jay]

We saw Paul Offitt give an informative talk in OC 2 years ago, on vax. He had a while segment on why vax don't cause autism, and did a great job.

With people like him out there, I am wondering how centers like this can make that claim?

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I would have loved to hear him speak, I am very familiar with his work.

[MrsK]

Hmm, their website is not very informative. (No mention of the Jenny McCarthy diet theory either.) I asked DrK and he said that he never heard of autism described as "recoverable".

[SoonerTexan]

Hmm...I'm going to hold judgment for now because it sounds very much like the treatment my now-9-year-old sister-in-law went through. She was diagnosed "on the spectrum" somewhere between 2 and 3. Or maybe closer to 4. I cant really remember at this point, but it was pretty young. She had little tolerance (or really none) for anyone outside her immediate family and eventually got to the point where she would even try and spend as much time away from her mom as possible. She spent HOURS in front of the computer. Basically had very few interpersonal skills and was retreating into herself. Was visibly uncomfortable around lots of people, especially strangers. Had little tolerance of unfamiliar places. Talked minimally, etc.

I don't know the details of the treatment, but it involved different therapists and eventually special ed at the local elementary school. I know my MIL started interacting with her ALL THE TIME, even if my SIL wanted her to go away. She made a lot of progress and a few years later was retested. She still has issues but they were not enough to put her "on the spectrum" anymore. She eventually was able to transfer out of the public school special ed program and into a normal kindergarten class at the Catholic school her siblings go to. You can tell she is still different and probably always will be. She still has a low tolerance for unfamiliar situations, food, locations, etc. but it is getting better. And you can tell she still likes to be alone, but she enjoys playing and being around others now too. It has taken her a long time to get used to N...she was very very cautious around her and has warmed up each time we visit.

So is that recovery? I don't know. Her issues are better but I wouldn't say 100% cured. When all of this was first going on, she wouldn't even acknowledge my presence when I visited. Just a year of the therapy made a huge difference. I wont claim to be an expert, but I think the major problem is "Autism" is such a catch-all term and the spectrum is WIDE. In her case, I would say "early intervention" helped, though.

[Deebs]

Early intervention definitely helps! But, it's generally been accepted in med circles that there is no cure or recovery, just improvement.