If you’re wondering whether autism changes over time, you’re asking something many families think about.
The answer is yes; autism does change over time but not in the way you’d expect.
Doris Nwoko, PMHNP, BC, at Synergy Behavioral Health, provides care to people aged 5-65. To learn more about how we can help support you, get in touch.
How Autism Changes
Autism does not disappear; however, the way it presents can take a very different form as an individual grows up.
Here’s what usually happens:
- Young kids: You notice more challenges with talking and playing with others
- School years: Kids learn ways to handle things better
- Teenage years: Some things get harder, but new skills show up too
- Adults: Many people get better at understanding themselves
What Gets Better and What Stays
The main parts of autism stay the same. People still process the world differently. But how they handle daily life often improves a lot.
Things that often get easier:
- Talking and sharing ideas
- Understanding other people
- Dealing with loud noises or bright lights
- Taking care of themselves
- Speaking up for what they need
Things that usually stay:
- Hypersensitivity to sounds, lights or textures
- Enjoying rituals and being familiar with them
- Being fascinated with some subjects
- Thinking in unique ways
Getting Help Early Makes a Difference
When kids get the right support early on, they often do much better as they grow up.
This help can include:
- Speech therapy: Learning different ways to communicate
- Social skills: Practice with making friends and understanding others
- Behavior support: Finding better ways to handle tough moments
- School help: Learning in ways that work best
What Makes Change Happen?
Several things make a difference in how autism changes over time:
- Good support: Having the right therapies and help
- Family involvement: When families understand and help
- School climate: Teachers familiar with working with autism
- Personal strengths: Expanding upon what an individual does well
- Other difficulties: Dealing with anxiety or attention problems
Different Ages, Different Changes
Little kids: Concentrate on mastering the ability to speak and play. Lots of children astonish people with their learning achievements.
Teenagers: Social stuff gets more complicated, but many teens start understanding themselves better.
Young adults: Time to think about college or jobs. Some of them figure out how to live independently with some assistance.
Older adults: The majority of them are more at ease with themselves and understand how to deal with life.
Why Support Still Matters
Although autism evolves as time progresses, individuals continue to receive support and assistance.
The appropriate assistance helps the families know what is effective and what may require alterations.
The professionals will see changes in needs, offer new methods and also celebrate wins.
You can have good people on your side, whether that is through therapy, counseling, or any other therapeutic aid.
Good Signs to Look For
You might notice these positive changes:
- Doing more things alone without help
- Staying calmer even when things don’t go as planned
- Better relationships with family and friends
- Sharing thoughts and feelings more easily
- Understanding themselves better
Research Shows Change Is Common
Studies support what families often see firsthand.
A study in the UC Davis MIND Institute showed that almost 30 percent of young children achieved reduced autism symptoms by age 6 compared to age 3, and some children lost their autism diagnosis completely.
The study followed 125 children and found that children’s symptom severity can change with age and that children can improve and get better.
The research also revealed essential patterns. Compared to boys with autism, girls with autism are likely to experience a diminishing and not an increase in the severity of autism symptoms in early childhood. Also, a better IQ would result in a greater likelihood of improvement of autism symptoms in children.
The World Health Organization says that “the abilities and needs of autistic people vary and can evolve over time.”
Research Sources:
- UC Davis Health – Autism severity can change substantially during early childhood
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders – Original Study
- World Health Organization – Autism Spectrum Disorders
Next Steps
Understanding how autism changes over time helps you make better choices about support and help.
At Synergy Behavioral Health, we offer evidence-based treatment to help people overcome challenges in every stage of the life process.
Do not hesitate to seek the support your loved one needs or you need.
Contact Synergy Behavioral Health now to set up an assessment and find out how our compassionate presence can make a difference.
FAQs
Can autism symptoms completely disappear?
The core traits stay, but many people get so good at managing them that autism becomes much less noticeable.
Do all people with autism improve over time?
Most people show some positive changes, but everyone’s journey looks different.
When do the biggest changes typically occur?
Early childhood and young adulthood are often when people make the most progress.
