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Can You Outgrow Autism? : A New Study

  • A new 2023 JAMA Pediatrics study found that 37% of toddlers diagnosed with autism no longer met diagnostic criteria by ages 5–7. Suggesting maybe you can outgrow autism. 
  • Early intervention, especially with parent involvement, may significantly improve communication, behavior, and adaptive skills.
  • Higher adaptive skills and being female were the strongest predictors of the best outcomes.
  • Learn how to improve your early intervention at home with Dr. Mary Barbera’s online course and community. 
  • Emerging research on stem cell therapy may offer future promise, but it does not replace proven early behavioral intervention.

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If you’re the parent of a toddler with autism, or a toddler showing signs of autism, you may have asked yourself:

Can you outgrow autism?

It’s one of the most common and controversial questions in the autism world.

And according to new research, the answer may be more nuanced than most people realize.

A 2023 study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that nearly 40% of toddlers diagnosed with autism no longer met diagnostic criteria by ages 5 to 7. That’s a big finding, and it raises important questions for parents and professionals alike.

But before we jump to conclusions, let’s look at what this actually means.

Can You Outgrow Autism?

The short answer?

Some children may no longer meet the criteria for autism as they get older, but that doesn’t mean autism simply disappears.

For years, researchers have used terms like:

But these terms can be misleading.

In many cases, children who “lose” their diagnosis may still struggle with:

So can you outgrow autism?

In some cases, a child may outgrow the diagnosis,but often not every underlying challenge.

One of the biggest factors that may influence whether a child improves enough to lose the diagnosis is early intervention combined with strong parent involvement.

In the study, nearly all children received autism-specific therapy—but what often makes the biggest difference is what happens outside of therapy sessions.

When parents are actively involved—learning strategies, practicing skills throughout the day, and turning everyday routines into learning opportunities, children get far more practice than therapy alone can provide.

This kind of consistent, real-life teaching can help improve:

So while autism itself may not simply “go away,” early, intensive support—especially when parents are part of the process—can significantly change a child’s developmental path. 

Let’s see what the research says on losing an autism diagnosis.

New Research: 37% of Toddlers Lost Their Autism Diagnosis

A recent longitudinal study followed 213 children diagnosed with autism between 12 and 36 months old.

Researchers reassessed them when they were between 5 and 7 years old.

Here’s what they found:

  • 79 children (37%) no longer met diagnostic criteria for autism
  • All of those children had IQs above 70
  • Girls were more likely than boys to lose the diagnosis
  • Higher adaptive skills at baseline predicted better outcomes

This is one of the strongest modern studies we’ve seen on this topic because:

  • All children met DSM 5 autism criteria
  • The study did not include outdated diagnoses like PDD NOS
  • Most children received autism specific intervention

That last point is critical.

Can Early Intervention Help a Child Lose an Autism Diagnosis?

This is where things get really important.

Almost all children in the study, over 94%, received autism specific intervention, mostly ABA therapy.

Does that mean therapy “cured” autism?

No.

But it does suggest that early intervention can dramatically improve:

  • Communication
  • Learning skills
  • Daily living skills
  • Behavior
  • Independence

And in some cases, those improvements may be enough that a child no longer meets autism criteria.

Even more importantly, when parents are trained and involved, those gains can happen faster and become more meaningful. They also reduce parent stress. 

Even when children are in therapy, when parents learn how to teach during the day, learning can happen during:

  • Mealtime
  • Bath time
  • Playtime
  • Getting dressed
  • Everyday routines

When parents know how to use these moments to teach, they multiply the impact of intervention.

This is why “wait and see” can be such dangerous advice.

Because the earlier you act, and the more involved you are, the better the chances of changing a child’s developmental trajectory. Research now proves it! 

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What Predicts the Best Autism Outcomes?

According to this study, only two factors significantly predicted the best outcomes:

1. Being Female

Girls in the study were more likely to lose the diagnosis than boys.

Out of 36 girls:

  • 22 had non persistent autism
  • 14 still met criteria

2. Higher Adaptive Skills Early On

Adaptive skills matter, a lot.

These include:

This is one reason I’ve spent years teaching parents that autism intervention is about much more than speech.

Language matters.

But so do self care and daily living skills. That is why inside my online courses and community, you don’t just get help on building language, but also on self-care skills including potty training! 

Could Stem Cell Therapy Help Autism Improve?

When parents ask, can autism go away? or can you outgrow autism?, they’re usually asking if there’s anything that can improve the core symptoms enough to change a child’s long term outcome.

And one emerging area of research worth watching is stem cell therapy. 

I keep talking to parents who are seeking this treatment, often in other countries, and i’ve been wondering if stem cells could really be part of supporting kids with autism. 

Recently I had my colleague, and researcher Dr. Joseph Cautilli on the podcast to discuss what he is seeing in the reserach and if the treatment is a good idea for families. 

So what is stem cell therapy?

Stem cells are special cells in the body that can develop into different types of cells and help repair or support damaged tissue. In autism research, scientists are exploring whether stem cells might help improve how the brain and immune system function, particularly in areas related to communication, inflammation, and neural connectivity.

stem cells and autism. outgrow autism
Can stem cells reverse signs of autism? Early research is promising that it could be part of the conversation.

One specific type that researchers are studying, and that Joe and I discussed, is stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood.

Umbilical cord blood is collected at birth and contains a rich supply of stem cells. Because these cells are young and flexible, researchers believe they may have unique potential to support brain development and reduce inflammation. Some studies have looked at infusing a child’s own stored cord blood, called autologous cord blood, to see if it can improve autism symptoms.

Right now, stem cells are not a standard treatment for autism, and they are not something I recommend outside of legitimate university based clinical trials.

But early research is intriguing.

A 2022 meta analysis looked at 11 stem cell studies involving 421 children with autism and found improvements in autism symptom severity, particularly on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, CARS. Researchers also found some improvement on the Autism Behavior Checklist, although gains in adaptive skills were much smaller.

That’s important.

Because even if stem cells eventually help reduce certain autism symptoms, children would still need strong teaching, therapy, and parent involvement to build language, self care, and learning skills.

In discussions among clinicians and researchers, there’s also been a consistent theme, even when biological treatments show promise, they don’t replace the need for intensive teaching. Improvements seen in studies are often modest and variable, and without structured intervention, children may not translate those changes into meaningful daily skills.

Researchers believe stem cells may help by:

  • Reducing inflammation
  • Supporting immune regulation
  • Improving communication between brain cells

But this research is still early.

The studies are small, and there are risks, including fevers, stomach issues, and the invasive nature of treatment.

So does this mean stem cells could help a child “outgrow” autism?

It’s too soon to know.

But if future research shows that stem cells, especially approaches like umbilical cord blood therapy, can improve the biological factors underneath autism, and those improvements are paired with early behavioral intervention, it may become one more piece of the puzzle for helping some children improve enough that they no longer meet diagnostic criteria.

My Take: Can Autism Be Reversed?

After more than 25 years as both a BCBA and the mom of a son with severe autism, here’s what I believe:

I don’t think you can “reverse” autism itself.

But I do believe you can dramatically improve the things that often come with autism:

And in some children, those improvements may be life changing, and the study shows young children can actually go on to lose their diagnosis. 

I’ve seen toddlers go from:

  • Nonverbal to conversational
  • Daily tantrums to calm communication
  • Severe feeding issues to eating family meals
  • Diapers at age four to full potty training

That’s why I believe in early action, and in empowering parents to be part of the intervention process. 

If your toddler isn’t talking, isn’t pointing, isn’t responding to their name, or you’re seeing signs of autism:

Don’t wait.

Take action.

What To Do Next

If you’re worried about your toddler and wondering whether autism can improve, or whether your child may even lose the diagnosis someday, start here:

✔ Take my free 10 minute assessment
✔ Learn your child’s strengths and challenges
✔ Get personalized guidance on the best next step

Because the sooner you know what to do, the sooner progress can begin.

Can You Outgrow Autism? Top FAQ

Some children may no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism as they get older, but that doesn’t always mean autism “goes away” completely. A 2023 JAMA Pediatrics study followed 213 toddlers diagnosed between 12 and 36 months and found that 37.1% no longer met autism criteria by ages 5 to 7. In my podcast discussion, Joe also pointed to this study as evidence that some young children show a “recovery effect,” especially when they receive early intervention.

Therapy does not “cure” autism, but strong early intervention can improve communication, behavior, learning, and adaptive skills enough that some children may no longer meet diagnostic criteria later. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes early identification and intervention for children with developmental concerns, not waiting until every answer is clear. In the transcript, both Joe and I discussed that good behavioral intervention, parent involvement, and language-building can help change a child’s developmental path

In the 2023 JAMA Pediatrics study, 79 out of 213 children, or 37.1%, no longer met diagnostic criteria for autism at follow-up between ages 5 and 7. This does not mean every child will lose the diagnosis, and the study found that children with stronger adaptive skills at baseline and girls were more likely to have nonpersistent autism.

Yes. Early intervention can improve language, social engagement, behavior, daily living skills, and long-term independence. In the 2023 study, most children received autism-specific intervention, and over 94% received some type of ASD-specific treatment. Joe and I also discussed that young children have more brain plasticity, which may make early teaching especially powerful

Stem cell therapy for autism is still experimental and is not a standard or FDA-approved autism treatment. In my interview with Joe, he said the research is promising but still early, and he emphasized that stem cells would not replace language training, verbal behavior programs, parent involvement, or behavioral intervention. A 2022 meta-analysis suggested possible improvements in autism symptom scales, but the FDA warns that regenerative medicine products require proper approval or clinical trial oversight and should not be marketed as proven cures

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Want to Learn how to Increase Talking & Decrease Tantrums in Children with Autism or Toddlers Showing Signs?

Want to start making a difference for your child or clients?

I’m Ready to Learn!