Outcomes for People with Autism

Employee at supermarket This is a list of scientific studies into outcomes in people with autism – what happens to people with Asperger syndrome, Autistic Disorder, Childhood Disintegratiive Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders – Not Otherwise Specified as they get older – which have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

If you know of any other scientific studies we should include please email info@researchautism.net with the details. Thank you.

If you are a UK resident you may be able to obtain full copies of some of the items listed on this page from your local public library, your college library, or the National Autistic Society’s Information Centre.

Research Autism

Research Autism project Research Autism is conducting a project on this issue. For details, please see

Bolman, W.M. et al. (2008). Brief report: 25-Year follow-up of a high-functioning autistic child. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(1), 181-183. Read Abstract

Clarke, D. (1999).The diagnosis of affective and psychotic disorders in adults with autism: Seven case reports. Autism, 3(2), pp. 149-164. Read Abstract

Creak M. (1963). Childhood psychosis: a review of 100 cases. Br J Psychiatry, 109, pp.84–89.

Eisenberg, L., and Kanner, L. (1956). Early Infantile Autism: 1943-55. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry, 26, pp. 556-566.

Fecteau S. et al. (2003). Developmental changes of autistic symptoms. Autism, 7(3), pp. 255-268. Read Abstract

Fisher W.; Burd L.; Kerbeshian J. (1988). Markers for improvement in children with pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Mental Deficiency Research, 32(5), pp. 357-369.

Freeman, B.J. et al. (1991). The stability of cognitive and behavioral parameters in autism: A twelve-year prospective study. Journal of the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, pp. 479-482.

Gillberg, C., & Steffenburg, S. (1987). Outcome and prognostic factors in infantile autism and similar conditions: A population-based study of 46 cases followed through puberty. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, pp. 273-287.

Gillberg, C. (1992). The Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture 1991. Autism and Autistic-like Conditions: Subclasses among Disorders of Empathy. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33(5), pp. 813–842. Read Abstract

Gillberg, C. (1991). Outcome in autism and autistic- like conditions. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 375-382.

Goode, S., Howlin, P., & Rutter, M. (1987). A follow-up study of cognitive and social outcome in autism. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research, 10, 455-457.

Harris. (1987). The developmental profile as a predictor of status for autistic children: Four to seven year follow-up. School Psychology Review, 16, pp. 89-93.

Howlin, P. (1997) Prognosis in autism: do specialist treatments affect long-term outcome? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 6(2).

Howlin P, Mawhood L, Rutter M. (2000). Autism and developmental receptive language disorder—a follow-up comparison in early adult life. II: Social, behavioural, and psychiatric outcomes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 41(5), pp. 561-578. Read Abstract

Howlin, P. (2000). Outcome in adult life for more able individuals with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism, 4(1), pp. 63 – 83. Read Abstract

Howlin P. et al. (2004). Adult outcome for children with autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 45(2), pp. 212-229. Read Abstract

Isager, T. et al. (1999). Mortality and Causes of Death in Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Autism, 3(1), pp. 7-16

Jónsdóttir, S. et al. (2007). Follow-up of children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders: Stability and change during the preschool years. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), pp. 1361-1374. Read Abstract

Kanner, L. (1971). Follow-up Study of Eleven Autistic Children Originally Reported in 1943. Journal of Austism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 1(2), pp. 119-145. Read Abstract

Kamp-Becker I. et al. (2009). Dimensional structure of the autism phenotype: Relations between early development and current presentation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 39(4), pp. 557-571. Read Abstract

Kobayashi, IL, Murata, T., & Yoshinaga, K. (1992). A follow-up study of 201 children with autism in Kyushu and Yamaguchi areas, Japan. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 395-411.

Korkmaz B. (2000). Infantile autism: adult outcome. Semin Clin Neuropsychiatry, 5(3), pp. 164-170. Read Abstract

Landa R, Garrett-Mayer E. (2006). Development in infants with autism spectrum disorders: a prospective study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 47(6), pp. 629-638. Read Abstract

Larsen,F.W. and Mouridsen, S.E. (1997) The outcome in children with childhood autism and Asperger syndrome originally diagnosed as psychotic. A 30-year follow-up study of subjects hospitalized as children. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 6(4), pp. 181. Read Abstract

Lewis P. et al. (2006). Cognitive, language and social-cognitive skills of individuals with fragile X syndrome with and without autism. J Intellect Disabil Res., 50(7), pp. 532-545. Read Abstract

Lockyer, L., & Rutter, M. (1970). A five to fifteen year follow-up study of infantile psychosis: IV. Patterns of cognitive ability. British Journal of Social Clinical Psychology, 9, 152-163.

Lotter, V. (1974). Factors related to outcome in autistic children. Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia, 4, pp. 263-277. Read Abstract

McGovern CW, Sigman M. (2005). Continuity and change from early childhood to adolescence in autism. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 46(4), pp. 401-408. Read Abstract

Mawhood L, Howlin P, Rutter M. (2000). Autism and developmental receptive language disorder—a comparative follow-up in early adult life. I: Cognitive and language outcomes. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 41(5), pp. 547-559. Read Abstract

Michelotti J. et al. (2002). Follow-up of children with language delay and features of autism from preschool years to middle childhood. Dev Med Child Neurol, 44(12), pp. 812-819. Read Abstract

Piven J, Harper J, Palmer P, Arndt S. (1996). Course of behavioral change in autism: a retrospective study of high-IQ adolescents and adults. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 35(4), pp. 523-529. Read Abstract

Ruble, L.A.and Dalrymple, N.J. (1996). An alternative view of outcome in autism. Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 11(1), pp. 3-15.

Rutter, M. (1970). Autistic children: Infancy to adulthood. Seminars in Psychiatry, 2, pp. 435-450.

Seltzer MM et al. (2004. Trajectory of development in adolescents and adults with autism. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev, 10(4), pp. 234-247. Read Abstract

Seltzer MM et al. (2003). The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders in adolescence and adulthood. J Autism Dev Disord, 33(6), pp. 565-581. Read Abstract

Sigman M. et al. (1999). Continuity and change in the social competence of children with autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev, 64(1), pp. 1-114. Read Abstract

Sigman, M. (2005) Improvement in Cognitive and Language Skills from Preschool to Adolescence in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 35(1).

Szatmari P. et al. (2000). Two-year outcome of preschool children with autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Am J Psychiatry, 157(12), pp. 1980-1987. Read Abstract

Szatmari, P. (2003) Predictors of outcome among high functioning children with autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 44(4).

Turner LM, Stone WL. (2007). Variability in outcome for children with an ASD diagnosis at age 2. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 48(8), pp. 793-802. Read Abstract

Venter, A. (1992). A follow-up study of high-functioning autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 33(3).

Wolf, L., & Goldberg, B. (1986). Autistic children grow up: An eight to twenty-four year follow-up study. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 31, pp. 550-556.

Baghdadli A. et al. (2006). What happens to children with PDD when they grow up? Prospective follow-up of 219 children from preschool age to mid-childhood Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 115(5), pp. 403 – 412. Read Abstract (New Window)
Baird G. et al. (2008). Regression, developmental trajectory and associated problems in disorders in the autism spectrum: The SNAP study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 38(10), Read Abstract (New Window)
Bennett T. et al. (2008). Differentiating autism and Asperger syndrome on the basis of language delay or impairment. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 38(4), pp. 616-625. Read Abstract (New Window)
Billstedt E., Carina Gillberg I., Gillberg C.(2007). Autism in adults: symptom patterns and early childhood predictors. Use of the DISCO in a community sample followed from childhood. Child Psychol Psychiatry. 11(48), pp. 1102-1110. Read Abstract (New Window)
Buckingham M., Newman D.B.(2011). Change in pragmatic language in infant-toddlers with autism spectrum disorder: A retrospective study. Language Learning and Education. 18, pp. 32-36. Read Abstract (New Window)
Burd L. et al. (1998). Two males with childhood disintegrative disorder: a prospective 14-year outcome study. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 40(10), pp. 702-707. Read Abstract (New Window)
Charman T. et al. (2005). Outcome at 7 years of children diagnosed with autism at age 2: predictive validity of assessments conducted at 2 and 3 years of age and pattern of symptom change over time Child Psychol Psychiatry. 46(5), pp. 500 – 513. Read Abstract (New Window)
Chawarska .K. et al. (2007). Parental recognition of developmental problems in toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 37(1), pp. 62-72. Read Abstract (New Window)
Darrou C. et al. (2010). Outcome of young children with autism: Does the amount of intervention influence developmental trajectories? Autism. 14(6), pp. 663-677. Read Abstract (New Window)
DeMyer M.K., Norton J., Allen J.(1973). Prognosis in autism: A follow-up study Journal of Autism and Child Schizophrenia. 3(3), 199 – 246. Read Abstract (New Window)
Farley M.A. et al. (2009). Twenty-year outcome for individuals with autism and average or near-average cognitive abilities. Autism Research. 2(2), pp. 109-118. Read Abstract (New Window)
Fountain C., Winter A.S., Bearman P.(2012). Six developmental trajectories characterize children with autism. Pediatrics. Read Full Item (New Window)
Gerber F. et al. (2008). Quality of life of adults with pervasive developmental disorders and intellectual disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. pp.1654-1665. Read Abstract (New Window)
Helt M. et al. (2008). Can children with autism recover? If so, how? Neuropsychology Review. 18(4), pp. 339-366. Read Abstract (New Window)
Hill A., Rosenbloom L.(1986). Disintegrative psychosis of childhood: teenage follow-up. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 28(1), pp. 34-40. Read Abstract (New Window)
Howlin P.(2003). Outcome in high-functioning adults with autism with and without early language delays: implications for the differentiation between autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 33(1), pp. 3-13. Read Abstract (New Window)
Hutton J. et al. (2008). New-onset psychiatric disorders in individuals with autism. Autism. 12(4), pp. 373-390. Read Abstract (New Window)
Johnson S. et al. (2008). Autistic spectrum symptoms in extremely preterm children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Read Abstract (New Window)
Kelley E., Naigles L., Fein D.(2010). An in-depth examination of optimal outcome children with a history of autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 4(3), pp. 526-538. Read Abstract (New Window)
Khouzam H.R. et al. (2004). Asperger’s disorder: a review of its diagnosis and treatment. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 45(3), pp. 184-191. Read Abstract (New Window)
Kleinman J.M. et al. (2008). Diagnostic stability in very young children with autism spectrum disorders Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 38(4), pp. 606-615. Read Abstract (New Window)
Kobayashi R., Murata T.(1998). Setback phenomenon in autism and long-term prognosis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 98(4), pp. 296-303. Read Abstract (New Window)
Levy A., Perry A.(2011). Outcomes in adolescents and adults with autism: A review of the literature. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 5(4), pp. 1271-1282. Read Abstract (New Window)
Marriage S., Wolverton A., Marriage K.J.(2009). Autism spectrum disorder grown up: a chart review of adult functioning. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 18(4), pp. 322–328. Read Abstract (New Window) Read Full Item (New Window)
Matson J.L., Mahan S.(2009). Current status of research on childhood disintegrative disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. pp. 861-867. Read Abstract (New Window)
Mouridsen S.E., Rich B., Isager T.(1998). Validity of childhood disintegrative psychosis. General findings of a long-term follow-up study. British Journal of Psychiatry. 172, pp. 263-267. Read Abstract (New Window)
Ozonoff S., South M., Miller J.(2000). DSM-IV defined Asperger syndrome: Cognitive, behavioural and early history differentiation from high functioning autism. Autism. 4(1), pp. 29-46. Read Abstract (New Window)
Paul R. et al. (2008). Language outcomes of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: a two year follow-up. Autism Research. 1(2), pp. 97-107. Read Abstract (New Window)
Pickett E. et al. (2009). Speech acquisition in older nonverbal individuals with autism: a review of features, methods, and prognosis. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. 22(1), pp.1-21. Read Abstract (New Window)
Rapin I.(1991). Autistic children: diagnosis and clinical features. Pediatrics. 87(5 Pt 2), pp. 751-760. Read Abstract (New Window)
Rutter M.L. et al. (2007). Early adolescent outcomes of institutionally deprived and non-deprived adoptees. III. Quasi-autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 48(12), pp. 1200-1207. Read Abstract (New Window)
Stefanatos G.A.(2008). Regression in autistic spectrum disorders. Neuropsychology Review. 18(4), pp. 305-319. Read Abstract (New Window)
Szatmari P. et al. (Epub ahead of print). Similar developmental trajectories in autism and Asperger syndrome: from early childhood to adolescence. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Read Abstract (New Window)
Szatmari P., Bartolucci G., Bremner R.(1989). Asperger’s syndrome and autism: comparison of early history and outcome. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 31(6), pp. 709-720. Read Abstract (New Window)
Szatmari P.(1991). Asperger’s syndrome: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 14(1), pp. 81-93. Read Abstract (New Window)
Tidmarsh L., Volkmar F.R.(2003). Diagnosis and epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 48(8), pp. 517-525. Read Abstract (New Window)
Wiggins L.D., Rice C.E., Baio J.(2009). Developmental regression in children with an autism spectrum disorder identified by a population-based surveillance system. Autism. 13(4), pp. 357-374. Read Abstract (New Window)
Young A., Ruble L., McGrew J.H.(2009). Public vs. private insurance: Cost, use, accessibility, and outcomes of services for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 3(4), pp. 1023-1033. Read Abstract (New Window)

Last Updated : 03/04/2012 Back to Top