SEATTLE - Is it possible to prevent autism or reverse it in children?

That question is behind a groundbreaking study at the University of Washington, where a little boy named Ashton Faller is raising hopes.

Ashton was diagnosed with autism. His mother says the early signs were subtle.

"My mother-in-law, she was saying, 'You know I think there's something wrong. He doesn't play with other kids. He's not looking at me.," Lisa Faller said.

But by 20 months of age, Ashton still did not speak or even make eye contact.

That would slowly change during a two-year study at the University of Washington Autism Research Center.

For more than 25 hours each week, therapists painstakingly rewarded eye contact and the slightest verbal communication.

They worked with Ashton at his home, and taught his family to reinforce the therapy.

KING

Ashton Faller benefited from a two-year study at the University of Washington Autism Research Center.

"Slowly but surely," Lisa Faller said. "We took little baby steps. Like handing him a cup. To him the cup comes out of nowhere. So I had to make sure he looked at me when I had the cup."

The therapy only works for some children, but University of Washington researcher Dr. Annette Estes has seen dramatic effects.

"Many of the children involved in this very early intervention show incredible gains," she said.

Now Estes and a team of researchers will study the intensive approach in infants. They're looking for 200 babies younger than 6 months old who have siblings with autism. It puts them at higher risk.

Researchers say parents will work alongside them every step of the way in the new study

"What we think is that early on the brain is developing very quickly. And if we can intervene at that time, we can stop some of the downstream effects of autism and maybe stop it before it really takes hold," Estes said.

Nine months into therapy Ashton was beginning to communicate.

Finally he would interact. And after two years, the 4-year-old is showing fewer signs of autism.

His mother calls his progress amazing.

To learn more about this study, call 1-800-994-9701.