There are certain studies that are so promising that despite their small sample size and extremely preliminary natures in terms of potential conclusions that they need to be publicized so that people can join in the hope that something tangible has been accomplished. While many of these studies ultimately lead research towards a dead end, hope is an invaluable quality when it comes to fighting extremely challenging foes. One of those foes is autism, and recent research has uncovered the possibility that some children could actually outgrow or recover from these autism symptoms over time.
However, the nature of the study was somewhat complicated and certain realities regarding it need to be kept in mind before people become too excited given the extremely high rate of autism that exists in the United States. Below you will find a brief overview of this study and its findings and its caveats. Anyone whose child has been diagnosed with autism because of mistakes made by professionals during that child’s birth should seek the advice of New York medical malpractice lawyers as soon as possible.
The Autism Diagnosis Study – A Brief Overview
Recently, researchers completed a study of autism diagnoses that was funded by the United States National Institutes of Health. The study looked at a group of 34 children who were diagnosed with autism earlier in life but who had achieved what was called an ‘optimal outcome’ because as they got older they were functioning at ‘normal’ levels years later. These children were matched with a group of children who were high-functioning autism suffers and another group of children who were never diagnosed with this condition.
The study found that the optimal outcome group was experiencing a lower level of social interaction problems than those who were in the high-functioning autism group and that those same optimal outcome children had slightly higher verbal scores than those in the high-functioning autism group. What was not looked at was the different types of therapy that these children had undergone during their lives.
While the results of this study tend to show that it could be possible for some children to outgrow the symptoms and struggles of autism, the group’s size was small and there are other factors that will need to be more thoroughly analyzed before any definitive answers can be drawn. What this study will likely accomplish is that it will garner more funding for those additional studies.
Autism and Medical Negligence
As of now there is no one defined cause for autism, and there is still no cure. However, some children are diagnosed with this condition after suffering a birth injury that was the fault of the medical professionals who were overseeing that child’s birth. If this includes your child, you need to seek the help of New York medical malpractice lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of families for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.