Yes, with intense Applied Behavior Analysis, speech, and occupational therapies our son (age 4) is moving leaps and bounds to other end of the spectrum.
I’ve said this before – on every post on Babble about autism – and I will continue to say it: there is not enough attention placed on behavioral therapies. I’ve met parents with ASD children who’ve never heard of ABA or if they have think it’s a means to turn their children into robots.

My son was recently diagnosed on the very high-functioning end of the Autism spectrum. The developmental pediatrician (as well as his geneticist) did indicate that, with the right therapies now, he may “weasel out” of this diagnosis over time.

As you article states, treatment can move kids closer to the high functioning end of the spectrum, which means that those kids who are there to begin with will basically be “cured” with treatment.

Years ago, I worked as a behavioral therapist using the Lovaas method, and ITA with Citizen Mom on this – ABA works for a lot of kids, especially if they get early intervention. The earlier the better.

I completely agree that there are kids who are misdiagnosed (especially at an early age – kids develop so differently from each other, some of these things are really hard to call on a 3 or 4 year old). I also agree that many kids in the Autism spectrum can move up the spectrum, especially with therapy.

Our 2nd son was diagnosed PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified) which is in the same family as Autism and Aspergers without either of those actually being diagnosed. His special education teacher, however, firmly believes he is Autistic. Personally, I don’t care as long as we continue to get him the extra help and therapy he is currently getting, because in the past 1 1/2 years we have seen amazing progress!

Our first born has no delays, but does exhibit some of the Autistic symptoms we’ve read about (funnily enough, not the same ones that his brother has) and so I do believe that some of these behaviors and “quirkiness” is genetic and inherited. I also believe that so many of these behavioral issues are inter-related – Autism, OCD, Bi-polar, anxiety, ADHD… and with all of these seeming to be diagnosed in higher numbers, I have to wonder how much is genetic, how much is environmental, and how much is mis-diagnosis or over-diagnosis? A certain behavior becomes linked to a disorder and all of a sudden everyone who exhibits that behavior has the disorder!

I just encourage any parent out there – if you suspect any sort of developmental delay, get your child therapy as soon as possible. It really does help, even if only to show you better ways to interact with your child to encourage their development.