Preprint, Katia Dolle et al.
Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by marked etiological and clinical heterogeneity. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the need to investigate integrative approaches that consider its potential multisystem nature. From the perspective of complex systems theory, effective interventions should necessarily be multidimensional and adaptive.
Case Presentation: A girl of Chilean nationality was evaluated at 2 years and 4 months of age following an early socio-communicative regression that began at around 12 months, with loss of response to name and eye contact, stereotyped hand-clapping and absence of expressive language. A pediatric neurologist had established a clinical diagnosis of ASD at 18 months of age. After 11 months of speech and occupational therapy, she remained preverbal (baseline ATEC: 53).
Intervention: An individualized Complex Naturopathic Intervention (CNI) was implemented over 24 months, structured into three core components: (1) trophology and dietary exclusion; (2) individualized naturopathic supplementation; and (3) parental coaching with daily structured home stimulation. Speech and occupational therapy continued concurrently.
Results: Symptom severity decreased by 64.2% (ATEC: 53 → 19 at month 20), with the speech/language subscale falling from 21 to 4. At month 16, the mainstream kindergarten reported good development in all domains, with difficulties limited mainly to expressive language. At month 17, the treating neurologist determined that the participant no longer met clinical criteria for ASD, establishing a diagnosis of mixed receptive–expressive language disorder. Two months later, a non-blinded external psychoeducational evaluation, conducted with knowledge of the prior diagnoses, described residual behaviors as compatible with ASD despite a negative Q-CHAT screening. At 5 years and 9 months of age, standardized developmental questionnaires showed a General Development Index of 123 (DP-3; 94th percentile), with all domains, including communication, within or above the normative range, and no clinically significant emotional or behavioral problems (SENA). She attends a mainstream kindergarten class with a residual diagnosis of expressive language disorder.
Conclusions: The CNI was associated with a clinical evolution consistent with functional remission (optimal outcome). As the first female case in the series, it documents a trajectory from early regressive autism to a normative developmental profile, and illustrates how a prior diagnostic label may guide the interpretation of residual behaviors by evaluators unfamiliar with the longitudinal course, a phenomenon described as diagnostic overshadowing.