The “miracle experiment” claims that severe autism can be reversed and symptoms reduced if children receive regular treatment from an early age.
The unprecedented findings come from a two-year study of twin girls from the US who were diagnosed with autism at 20 months of age.
The programme was designed to support the growth and development of two young girls as part of pioneering research.
Scientists claim the programme has been a success, seeing “dramatic” changes in the twins’ condition.
One of the girls, named Twin P, saw her Autism Treatment Assessment Checklist score drop dramatically from 43 out of 180 in March 2022 to 4 in October 2023.
Of Twin P, study author Dr Chris D’Adamo from the University of Maryland said: The Daily TelegraphThe symptoms in one of the twins were so reversed that he was indistinguishable from a child who had never shown symptoms of autism.
“These twins’ functioning is comparable to that of people who have never been diagnosed with autism.”
Another girl, “Twin L,” also saw her score drop from 76 to 32.
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As part of the study, published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, the twins underwent behavioral analysis and speech therapy.
They also followed a strict gluten-free diet that excluded any highly processed foods.
The girls were also given daily supplements including omega-3 fatty acids and multivitamins..
In a study published in MDPI’s journal Sexes, parents said they understood there was no “single treatment” that would reverse the condition.
The parents, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote: “Through this approach, we have witnessed a dramatic recovery in one daughter – she is now a joyful, sweet, energetic and incredibly bright four-year-old.”
“We continue to support our other daughter closely, whose recovery continues to amaze us and remind us that recovery is possible at each individual’s own pace.”
Dr. D’Adamo added that symptoms are unlikely to recur over time. “Symptoms that may recur may be anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, sensory issues, etc., and not necessarily related to the behavioral aspects of autism,” he said.
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6 signs your child may have autism – some kids wait up to four years for official diagnosis
Rebecca Whitaker
Children across the UK are waiting up to four years to be diagnosed with autism.
Ministers condemned the delays as “harmful”, saying they could mean children “miss out on the support they need in other areas of their lives”.
So what symptoms does autism present in children?
Some infants may show signs within the first few months of life, while in others the behavior may not become apparent until they are toddlers, and in others, they may never show any signs at all.
Here, Dr Punit Shah, professor of psychology at the University of Bath and neurodiversity expert, breaks down some of the potential signs…
Avoid eye contact
Not making eye contact during a conversation is one sign that your child may have autism.
That’s because for many children with autism, avoiding eye contact helps reduce anxiety, explained Dr Shah, who appeared on the first episode of 2023. BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham brings you the documentary series “Inside Our Autistic Minds.”
“There are many reasons why people with autism avoid eye contact, and not all autistic people do,” he added. “Some people who avoid eye contact may do so to reduce anxiety and cope better in social situations.”
It can also help children with autism better understand social situations by reading other people’s facial expressions.
“For others, it may help them process other stimuli better without worrying about the complex social information we get from eyes and faces,” Dr Shah said.
Sensory hypersensitivity
Being anxious about loud noises is a common sensory difference in children with autism.
This sensory hypersensitivity makes it difficult to filter out irrelevant noise and avoid discomfort and loss of focus, leading to a feeling of overwhelmingness.
“Generally speaking, children with autism have sensory sensitivities to a variety of things,” Dr. Shah said.
“This can happen not only in response to predictable things like bright lights and loud noises, but also to unusual colours or patterns.”
“It really depends on the person.”
Difficulty speaking
Repeating the same words or phrases, not talking as much as other children, or talking over others are all signs of autism.
“Language skills in children with autism are generally a little delayed, but that’s not always the case,” Dr Shah said.
“Another sign is repetitive sounds or speech (also known as echolalia), which may be characteristic of autism.”
Taking words literally is also a communication challenge that autistic children often struggle with, National Health Service.
For example, they may not understand a phrase like “break a leg” and take it literally.
Some children with autism have a hard time communicating what they want.
The charity Child Autism UK gives the example of leading an adult to a tin of biscuits, rather than asking or pointing.
Repetitive behaviors
A preference for a very strict routine and becoming upset if this changes can be a sign that a child may have autism, the NHS says.
Dr. Shah explains that this need for routine can manifest in many different ways and can be idiosyncratic, leading to children having unusual habits and patterns of behavior.
However, this depends on your personal interests and needs.
“Typically, this may take the form of needing to have predictable daily routines based on the timing of daily activities,” he said.
According to Child Autism UK, children with autism who like routine and show signs of repetitive behaviour may play with toys or arrange items in the same way every time.
The charity stresses that signs include “limiting certain activities, such as only eating yellow foods, watching the same programme repeatedly or only wearing your favourite jumper”.
Repetitive movements
This isn’t just a repetitive routine; children with autism can also repeat the same actions over and over.
In young children, symptoms may include hand-flapping, finger-popping and rocking, according to the NHS.
But sometimes children may crave specific visual or auditory experiences, says Child Autism UK.
The charity suggests this could involve relative activities such as spinning the wheels on a toy train, looking at the poles of a fence or listening to the theme tune of a favourite TV programme.
Misunderstanding emotions
According to Child Autism UK, children with autism can find it hard to make friends and often choose to play alone.
According to the NHS, some children may have difficulty expressing their feelings and understanding those of others.
However, misinterpreting emotions or not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling can be a sign of several disorders.
Dr Shah said: “This really varies from person to person and is often not related to autism itself but to conditions that overlap with autism, such as alexithymia (emotion blindness).”
The NHS said that girls with autism may mask their symptoms by imitating other children’s behaviour and play styles, so the condition may manifest itself in different ways.
Many girls with autism seem to cope well in social situations, which may be because they imitate other children.
“We know there are gender differences in autism but they’re not well understood,” Professor Shah said.
“Because diagnostic criteria for autism have been shaped primarily by clinical observations of boys, we are still in the process of learning what autism looks like in girls. This will take time.”
