Like many children who develop autism, Jake Exkorn experienced normal development, then lost nearly all of his communication skills before the age of two. But unlike most children who received the diagnosis, today at age 13, doctors say Jake no longer has the disorder.

After two years of intensive therapy including applied behavior analysis (ABA), Jake’s doctor reported that he had recovered from autism.

But the question of whether or not anyone can “recover” from autism remains a hot one. And researchers are delving in to determine whether or not that is in fact possible.

Some research relying on social skills testing and MRI’s does indicate recovery has occurred in some people with autism. However, researchers warn that the number of people who “recover” is minimal and recovery does not mean that all challenges disappear, reports The Today Show.

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