Yes it can (doesn't mean it always will). For an evergreen like an avocado, recovery is a long and awkward process. It isn't going to produce an entirely new set of leaves next spring; just the new growth. So it can take quite a few years to get it looking decent again.

Was it recently transplanted? If so, make sure that it is adequately watered and perhaps rig up a shade structure to protect it from the hottest sun. If not, why did it suddenly burn (did you remove a tree or structure that was providing shade, for example?) You need to figure out the cause of the problem in order to do the most to correct it.

Thanks Sara... yes it was a new tree just planted March. I've since rigged some shade for it and made sure it's well mulched and watered. I didn't realise that Avocados were so vulnerable to sun.. now I do. So Should I just leave it to recover how it wants or should I prune dry leaves and branches?

I'd leave it for a bit although if the branch is clearly dead you can prune it off. Sometimes you really don't know until spring flush. Gardening: one heartbreak after another!

They like plentiful water but at the same time excellent drainage, and a thick fluffy mulch of their own leaves, so leave what falls in place, don't rake it up. Their roots are rather fine and delicate, that is why they like a fluffy mulch, to keep the roots from getting too hot and dry. Here they are grown commercially on slopes to get that excellent drainage. A lot of the cost of the fruit is in the amount of water they like to have.

Thanks hoovb. We've had really hot days and dry hot winds and I started to see the tree take a dive. I found a video on youtube titled.. how to not kill an avocado tree.. In my horror, I was doing everything to kill an avocado. So the tree now has a good fluffy mulch, a makeshift shade structure and good watering.. but it may be too late. I'll have to wait 'till spring 2018 to know and take what I've learnt to the next tree. That's interesting what you said about the cost of the tree being the amount of water they like to have..