Can your child's diagnosis change?

Shelly - posted on 11/07/2009

Quoting Chantal:

Can your child's diagnosis change?

I have a 3 year old daughter that was diagnosed moderate autism just before she turned 2. She has made such huge strides since then and seems to be so much better and wondering how she could be in the future if she keeps improving. I'm wondering how many moms have seen their child lose their diagnosis or at least maybe have it change from autism to aspergers? My nephew had that happen to him (autism-aspergers) and I am just wondering how common that is and how many kids are in mainstream school as a result of lots of hard work (and good fortune, not all can be so lucky no matter how much work they put in, unfortunately).

My son, now 19, was originally diagnosed with classic Autism when he was in kindergarten.  In his mid-teens, we were seeing a psychologist who determined that he had Asperger's.  I don't know if this was because he was originally misdiagnosed or had made such significant improvement.

Judi - posted on 11/07/2009

Autism is always there but with therapy and therapy and more therapy it can change. We went from Moderate Autism to PDD.

Michele - posted on 11/07/2009

My son was dx with PDD in January and was regressing at a fast rate, and we put him on the gfcf diet and lots of supps plus speech therapy, and as of September he is no longer on the spectrum. He now only has a speech delay.

Candice - posted on 11/07/2009

I have been wondering that myself. both of my children have autism. my oldest daughter has aspergers with adhd and my youngest has autism. i spent the last three years talking to my youngest ( 4yrs now) and not ever hearing a word. i got a diagnosis and started speech and ot. she started out on a one year old lvl and now she is up to about a two and half lvl. that has only been back in april. and i hear her talk all the time now. so they should change. we are having a iep for her soon. so well be getting her evaluated again. Im excited.



have you got her on an IEP yet through the school?

Renee - posted on 11/07/2009

I've been told by our 15 year veteran OT that the diagnosis can be upgraded or downgraded according to the progress of the child. So a moderately affected child might make so much progress that they are upgraded to mild. But a child who is diagnosed with autism will have autism for life - ALTHOUGH the child may become symptom free which is not the same thing as CURED. At 4 years old my son was diagnosed with mild to moderage autism. he is now 8 years old and considered mild and is mainstream in a typical 20 kid 2nd grade classroom although he does have an aide to assist him with getting through all the activities at school. So yes, the diagnosis can and does change we all hope for the better. I also agree that therapy should go as swiftly as the child can. Good luck!

Samantha - posted on 11/04/2009

My son was diagnosed with PDD at 4 yrs then aspergers syndrome at 5 yrs and finally ADHD at 6 yrs. lol so yea I think it can.

Brenda - posted on 11/02/2009

I was told to hit my son hard and fast with therapies when he was dx with PDD/NOS at the age of 4, I believe God Bless me with the right people at the right time. We have made great strides, but my son is not completely mainstream, but I expect him to be a fully functioning adult. His dx has changed over the last 9 yrs and he is now considered Mild to Moderate Asperger/Autistic. He is high fuctioning but still has communication and learning problems. Every child is different and I think alot depends on good fortune, blessings or whatever you call it when a child show alot of recovery. Take everything you can get to keep her on the right track and be proactive in her life all the time. God Bless and much patience :)