Children 'may grow out of autism'

[dipsydoodle]

8. From experience within my own family.

My sisters first son who is now in his early twenties was diagnosed as autistic at a very early age. It was originally foreseen that he might develop as an adult with a mental age of 8. He struggled at school being slow to learn but always happy to devote himself to learning and as such was perpetually allowed to re-sit subjects. Aside from lacking odd social skills like knowing when appropriate to smile he's just fine now with a job, a car and looking to buy a house.

Her second son had no signs of autism.

Her third son did speak at all until between ages three and four - he's 18 now and just qualified for a university place.

They are all in Australia and gauging by the fact her first son was born 1990 I'd say they are well up on this over there. Due to the closeness of the subject my sister who is early fifties got a degree in psychology last year.