What causes autism! | Autism PDD

There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that autistic children may have inherited. It also appears that some children are born with a susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.

Other researchers are investigating the possibility that under certain conditions, a cluster of unstable genes may interfere with brain development resulting in autism. Still other researchers are investigating problems during pregnancy or delivery as well as environmental factors such as viral infections, metabolic imbalances, and exposure to environmental chemicals.

Autism tends to occur more frequently than expected among individuals who have certain medical conditions, including Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria (PKU). Some harmful substances ingested during pregnancy also have been associated with an increased risk of autism. Early in 2002, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prepared a literature review of hazardous chemical exposures and autism and found no compelling evidence for an association; however, there was very limited research and more needs to be done.

The question of a relationship between vaccines and autism continues to be debated. In a 2001 investigation by the Institute of Medicine, a committee concluded that the "evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship.... between MMR vaccines and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)." The committee acknowledged, however, that "they could not rule out" the possibility that the MMR vaccine could contribute to ASD in a small number of children. While other researchers agree the data does not support a link between the MMR and autism, more research is clearly needed.

And I've detected a modern version of this -- the myth of the "cure." A defect of the hardwiring of the brain is no more "curable" than is a tendency in a family toward having red hair. As mentioned above, autism is not a disease. It is a disorder that is caused by something a child is born with or is born with a tendency toward. To say that we can cure an inborn issue puts the onus on the parents to seek that cure. And when a cure is not forthcoming, those loving, diligent parents end up thinking they simply didn't try hard enough, long enough, spend enough money or been clever enough. The guilt for not doing ENOUGH puts many of today's parents in the same place the Refrigerator Mothers of old found themselves. Feeling guilty that somehow they contributed to their child's autism. Refrigerator mothers were made to feel guilty for what they supposedly did. Today's parents are made to feel guilty for what they supposedly didn't do. The end result is the same. Autism continues and hearts break.

This generation of kids with autism is very lucky. There ARE effective interventions. With education for both the parents and kids, many kids improve tremendously. But not all kids do. And that is not necessarily because the parents didn't do enough. Or the kids didn't try hard enough. As mentioned above, autism is a spectrum disorder. Yes, there are some that are on the highest end of the spectrum. But that also means there are some at the lowest end of the spectrum. And the vast majority of our kids are in between. We're all here on this Board to try to find out what to do to help our kids. We try various things. We do what we can do. The rest is up to them and the degree to which autism has affected them, individually.

Whatever the cause, it is clear that children with autism and PDD are born with the disorder or born with the potential to develop it. It is not caused by bad parenting. Autism is not a mental illness. Children with autism are not unruly kids who choose not to behave. Furthermore, no known psychological factors in the development of the child have been shown to cause autism.

I basically agree with this...Autism is certainly NOT caused by "refridgerator mothers"! God bless those Mommies who were so labeled...Is the increase in autism diagnoses related to the increased rate of
women (&men) having children at a later age? There seems to be an
almost parallel rate of increase of children born prematurely due to
increase age of parents.

The point is besides genetic & environmental factors, perhaps social
changes in certain countries contribute to the increased rate of
diagnoses.

AmyThere is no connection between a mother's age and the autism rate. However, there is some evidence that children born to fathers over age 35 have a higher rate of autism. This statistic comes from information found in the records of the Israeli army. In Israel, ALL children are drafted first and found exempt later. That's why there are stats on 100% of all Israeli young people. Those stats turned up this connection. RIght now there are others in the autism community researching whether or not the older dad thing exists in other areas of the world. The Israeli stats also show no mom connection.
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