"Recovering" from Autism

[Lori]

I just read an article in Us weekly about Jenny McCarthy's son's recovery from Autism. She states that she's calling it a recovery becuase he still has seizures and other health issues as a result from his "injury" that cause Autism (an MMR vaccine, according to Jenny). I'm curious what some of you think about that. Is it possible to "recover" or be "cured" of Autism? I think it would be amazing if it were true, but I'm skeptical.

[Cindy Davis]

Hi Lori,
This was the first question I asked my ABA consultant and she said, "Yes, I believe you can recover children from Autism and I have recovered many kids." For me, it all depends on your criteria for recovery: is your child mainstreamed, what did the objective testing outcome from the neuropsych say, is speech on par with typical children, can he socialize without support, and more. These children will have medical issues and will be dependent on supplements and meds but that does not mean that they can't recover. We all work toward recovery and our children work darn hard and it will pay off. Look at this way, if you were hit by a car or had a stroke or brain injury, your body and brain will never be the same again- you can recover from the accident with tons of therapy and get to your fullest potential and be an independent person but you might need some help if the routine changes or your mind is not as sharp as it was prior to the stroke. My husband also believes that if you teach coping strategies at an early age, the kids have better chance of recovery and being mainstreamed. Use their strengths to their advantage and they will do well in school. I am a physical therapist, so I do look at this from a rehabilitative stand point and try to be totally objective about something that is very emotional. Sometimes it is hard to separate the two though! But I have seen broken arms, pinned together that will never be the same either, so it is all perspective...

[Laurie A]

There are many ways of looking at the answer to this question, and I think the answer will vary according to what medical issues one's child is facing. In my son's case, there is nothing for him to be "cured" of, or "recovered" from. Not that I don't face challenges that I must tackle, I do! However, I accept that his autism is a part of who he is. I just read "Defeating Autism, A Damaging Delusion" by Michael Fitzpatrick, and the final paragraph in the book very much coincides with my view of "recovery" and "autism acceptance." I'll share it here:

"Our starting point is not the quest for recovery, but, accepting that our son is autistic, we try to do the best we can to strengthen his engagement with the world. Acceptance does not mean resignation, but seeking mutually enjoyable activities that foster social interaction, such as swimming or trampolining, and trips to restaurants and supermarkets. Other parents will find other activities appropriate to the developmental level of their child. Acceptance does not mean falsely celebrating the different individuality of the autistic child, nor does it mean adopting a fatalistic posture that nothing can be done. But it does mean parents and others accepting and loving the autistic child as another human being, and it means accepting that the quest for a miracle cure is not likely to be helpful for their autistic child, for any other children they might have, or indeed, for themselves."

[Joanna]

In my opinion I think it is possible to recover from the vaccine injury. People who have shown Autism since a young infant can be helped with behavior therapies such as ABA. I think these children can improve but I do not believe these children can be cured.