Autistic children grow up: an eight to twenty-four year follow-up study.

Eighty questionnaires were sent to parents and/or caregivers of autistic persons diagnosed between 1960-73 at CPRI, a regional assessment and treatment centre. The objective was to determine their present place of residence, functioning ability, language development, program involvement, and seizure activity. The results of this study support evidence that more than 50 percent require long-term institutional care; almost one-third suffer epileptic seizures; there is a persistence of symptoms and difficulty in gaining useful speech; few live independently or are capable of employment.