Prognosis
10-20% of children with infantile autism begin to improve between the ages 4 and 6 years and are able to attend ordinary schools and have ordinary employment.
10-20% of children with this condition can live at home but attend special schools and are not able to have ordinary employment.
About 60% of children show little improvement and are unable to lead an independent life, most requiring long- term residential care.
Children who do improve continue to show language difficulties, exhibit emotional coldness and odd behaviour.
There is an increased risk of the development of epilepsy in adolescence. (2)
Reference
- Steinhausen HC, Mohr Jensen C, Lauritsen MB. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the long-term overall outcome of autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2016 Jun;133(6):445-52.
- Besag FM. Epilepsy in patients with autism: links, risks and treatment challenges. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017 Dec 18;14:1-10.
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