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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 1–2Cite as

Optimal Outcome

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Definition

A small percentage of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may go on to lose core symptoms of the diagnosis and achieve “optimal outcomes.” Helt et al. (2008) defined an individual with an optimal outcome as having a history of an ASD diagnosis, demonstrating average or above average academic and adaptive functioning, receiving minimal special education supports specific to autism symptoms, and not meeting criteria for a diagnosis of ASD diagnosis as determined by administration of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).

Lovaas (1987) pioneered the study of “recovery” from ASD when he reported strong cognitive and academic outcomes in a small sample of individuals with high-functioning ASD following early, intensive behavioral intervention. Since Lovaas’ study, a number of researchers have carried out further studies of recovery from ASD with stronger experimental designs and more comprehensive measures of outcome (e.g., Fein et al. 2013; Sallows and...

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References and Reading

  • Eigsti, I. M., Stevens, M. C., Schultz, R. T., Barton, M., Kelley, E., Naigles, L., et al. (2016). Language comprehension and brain function in individuals with an optimal outcome from autism. NeuroImage: Clinical, 10, 182–191.

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  • Fein, D., Barton, M., Eigsti, I., Kelley, E., Naigles, L., Schultz, R. T., et al. (2013). Optimal Outcome in Individuals with a History of Autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(2), 195–205.

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  • Helt, M., Kelley, E., Kinsbourne, M., Pandey, J., Boorstein, H., Herbert, M., & Fein, D. (2008). Can children with autism recover? If so, how? Neuropsychology Review, 18, 339–366.

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  • Lovaas, O. I. (1987). Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 3–9.

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  • Orinstein, A. J., Helt, M., Troyb, E., Tyson, K. E., Barton, M. L., Eigsti, I. M., et al. (2014). Intervention for optimal outcome in children and adolescents with a history of autism. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 35, 247–256.

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  • Orinstein, A., Tyson, K. E., Suh, J., Troyb, E., Helt, M., Rosenthal, M., et al. (2015). Psychiatric symptoms in youth with a history of autism and optimal outcome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 3703–3714.

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  • Sallows, G. O., & Graupner, T. D. (2005). Intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism: Four-year outcome and predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110, 417–438.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chapel Hill Pediatric Psychology, P.A., Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Katherine Tyson

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Deborah Fein

Authors
  1. Katherine Tyson
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  2. Deborah Fein
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Correspondence to Katherine Tyson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Tyson, K., Fein, D. (2018). Optimal Outcome. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_2023-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_2023-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Optimal Outcome
    Published:
    18 June 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_2023-4

  2. Original

    Optimal Outcome
    Published:
    01 December 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_2023-3

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