Do You Grow Out of Autism?

Back in the 1940s, autism was recognized as a lifelong disability. Then came decades during which many believed that autism was something you could "grow out of." Today, we've returned to the more nuanced and accurate view: Autism is lifelong, with a broad spectrum of experiences that continue well beyond childhood.

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This evolving perspective has significant implications for how we support autistic people; not just as children, but across all stages of life. That includes autistic adults who need support navigating work, relationships, and independent living, as well as those with higher support needs who may require lifelong assistance with housing, daily care, and communication. The shift away from seeing autism as only a childhood phase calls for systems that plan for these realities across the lifespan; including old age, which affects everyone on the spectrum.

Kanner's Early View: Autism as Lifelong

When child psychiatrist Leo Kanner first wrote about autism in 1943, he described it as something present from early infancy that stayed with a person for life. He noted traits like social withdrawal, repetitive behaviors, and a strong preference for sameness. To him, these weren't phases; they were deeply rooted characteristics.

Kanner believed autism was innate and lifelong. And while he acknowledged that some children might improve with support, he saw autism itself as something that didn't disappear.

His work laid the groundwork for how autism was initially studied and understood.

The Mid-Century Shift: Autism as a Childhood Phase

By the 1950s and 1960s, the focus began to shift. Autism came to be seen as something that mainly affected children. Here's why.

1. Lack of Long-Term Studies. At the time, researchers didn't have data on how autistic children fared into adulthood. Without long-term follow-up, the focus stayed on early interventions, mostly aimed at helping children “catch up” in communication or social skills. This gave rise to the belief that autism was mostly a childhood presentation.