The simple answer to this question is yes, a person with autism spectrum disorder can live independently as an adult. However, not all individuals achieve the same level of independence.
Autism is a significant developmental disorder that is usually diagnosed in very young children. 1 While it is possible to be mildly autistic, it takes more than a few quirks to earn the diagnosis.
Unfortunately, no. There's no way to grow out of autism. An autism diagnosis will last for a person's lifetime, and treatment is intended to lower the reactions and characteristics of symptoms. As a developmental disorder, autism has no known cure.
Autism has a wide spectrum and not every individual with autism can find a place in mainstream schools. However, I have had a few success stories where the right support and timely intervention helped. Several students from my schools were able to successfully complete their education from mainstream schools.
People with mild ASD are often very good at masking their symptoms. If they are undiagnosed, they may struggle with feeling different, misunderstood, or be confused by other's behavior. This can cause serious problems and isolate them from their loved ones in ways they don't even realize.
If the autism spectrum disorder left untreated it will have a detrimental effect on that person's life make him dependent on others. Additionally there are higher chances for the appearance of new symptoms which were absent before that eventually worsen the situation.
Asperger's Syndrome is the mildest form of autism and is closely associated with level one of ASD.
ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months of age or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until much older. Some people are not diagnosed until they are adolescents or adults.
We know that there's no one cause of autism. Research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences. These influences appear to increase the risk that a child will develop autism.
The behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often appear early in development. Many children show symptoms of autism by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier. Some early signs of autism include: Problems with eye contact.
ASD has many similarities to ADHD, but there are also differences between the two. Can a person be diagnosed with both ADHD and ASD? More than half of all individuals who have been diagnosed with ASD also have signs of ADHD. In fact, ADHD is the most common coexisting condition in children with ASD.
While autism is most often diagnosed in toddlers, it's possible for autistic adults to go undiagnosed.
Level 1 is the mildest, or “highest functioning” form of autism, which includes those who would have previously been diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD level 1 may have difficulty understanding social cues and may struggle to form and maintain personal relationships.
The symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder may change over time but the underlying condition doesn't worsen. The simple answer to this question is, no. Autism Spectrum Disorder is not like heart disease or diabetes or similar physical conditions that can deteriorate over time.
Give your child space, don't touch them, and keep other people away. Turn down lights and keep things quiet, or give your child noise-cancelling headphones. Let one person speak to your child, but don't say too much. Stay calm and wait.
For example, someone with mild autism may: Be able to speak but has trouble with back-and-forth conversation. Tries to make friends but are not successful because they appear "odd" to others. Does age-appropriate schoolwork or tasks, but has a hard time changing activities or trying new ways of doing something.
Children with autism often enjoy sensory toys because they help them feel calm and engage their senses in a positive way. 6 Sensory toys can include weighted stuffed animals, fidget toys, and putty. When looking for a toy for a child with autism, keep in mind their interests and their developmental stage.
Risk Factors
Having a sibling with ASD. Having certain genetic or chromosomal conditions, such as fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis. Experiencing complications at birth. Being born to older parents.
Change in severity of autism symptoms and optimal outcome
One key finding was that children's symptom severity can change with age. In fact, children can improve and get better. "We found that nearly 30% of young children have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3.
Although typically developing children generally produce their first words between 12 and 18 months old (Tager-Flusberg et al. 2009; Zubrick et al. 2007), children with ASD are reported to do so at an average age of 36 months (Howlin 2003).