I haven’t written about autism lately. Mostly because there has not been any new research I considered worth sharing with you. But, many of my friends all know that we could easily have been among those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Because there’s a fine line between high functioning ASD subjects and those of us who managed, through some means or another, to find a way to be who we are and not be so diagnosed.
Since I first learned about the spectrum, it was hard to discern what made me and my friends capable of “passing”, for not being diagnosed. No, I don’t mean that we are similar to the “conventional” concept of autism. But, as part of my studies, I’ve seen many of those with Aspergers diagnosis. And, it’s a disconcerting feeling.
This becomes more of an issue when we see that the not so old conventional wisdom that ASD prevailed in 1 of 100 births to the newer incidence of 1 in 68. And, now we know that abnormalities in their brains occur before birth- not after. (Sorry, you folks who persist in spreading lies that vaccinations are the cause. Facts matter.) The problem is right now diagnosis cannot be provided until the child is around 2 years of age- and the choices of which genes may be the cause are almost limitless.
And, I’ve often written that there is a vast difference between causation and correlation. In spite of how we always want simple answers, right now there are none for the causes of autism. But, we do know certain facts.
The odds of having a child with autism:
We know that if the mother is subject to stress during the latter part of pregnancy, the odds of having an autistic child begin to skyrocket. From being in a hurricane or tornado, emigrating from one country to another, all these factors lead to changes in the child’s brain and increase the chances of autism in that child.
But, that still is no answer. When we are so desperate for answers- because 1 in 68 births is just too high an incidence for comfort.
Well so much to say here. First of all you imply that you are autistic? Interesting and a reminder that the spectrum is so very broad. I never did feel that vaccinations were a cause although my mother insists that my son made a marked change at that point. I think that is more a case of granny-emotion or perhaps not wanting to consider that there could be a genetic cause, lol. I believe that the increase is due to the increase of toxins in our environment. I am VERY upset about the use of mercury in light bulbs and we all know that the percentage of people who will actually recycle them responsibly is very low. Sad. We are mutating ourselves..
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Oh, yes, we are making our mutations much more prevalent, Alessa…
I wish I knew the causes (I’m not the only one)- and I am sure genetic information is part of the answer; but, we now know that we can alter our own genetic code to some degree by our actions (or inactions)…
And, having worked with several folks with Asperger’s and studying it (to some degree), I can point to activities that I and my friends routinely engage that in a different environment would have had us included in such diagnoses. Many of the overtly nerdy folks – at science fairs, at elite sci-tech secondary/college/grad school could present the same behaviors and attributes.
Interesting take on autism http://t.co/bUkzHifglV
I agree – incidence much too high
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And, therein lies the scare for parents, Caro.
Autism. News, but no real news. | http://t.co/ZyFHPzIGbl via @Adjuvancy
Roy, I am of the opinion (no research) that the parents have delved too much into drugs and drink even before the child was conceived that may have changed the genetic code that child receives. Also there are getting to be younger and younger parents.
As for us being diagnosed with ASD–a lot of people don’t have a high IQ brain, but are socially awkward enough we might have been diagnosed with something during our youth.
Could it be that there is some misdiagnosis going on? Let’s jump on a bandwagon and say this kid who is very physical has ADHD and that kid who continuously picks up the wrong social cues has ASD?
The school system is not geared to either kind of kid. Let’s put on a label, give them pills and keep them moving up into the realm of information that has prerequisite foundations that they have missed.
Then we are justified when they act out, saying here is proof that we are right.
As for true autism, that is a whole separate issue. I have seen it first hand and it is a physical abnormality, like Downs Syndrome. There have been some therapies that help, but . . .
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Ann:
I agree with your observations about ADHD and it’s “prevalence”, as I already said to Marie.
And, ASD could be related to many folks “waiting” for the perfect time to have kids. Older sperm and eggs can be an issue- but how much? (We don’t know for sure.)
I just don’t know- and neither to others, which adds to the stress, which can add to the prevalence…
Autism. News but no real news. http://t.co/AT9YTK5Ncb
I have heard the rumors about vaccinations and I am so glad that they were proven not to be true. I didn’t know that stress to the mother in the latter months of pregnancy could have such an effect. I agree with you that the incidence is much too high.
And, not knowing why/how this can occur certainly does not alleviate stress, Suerae!
In this day and age, as light is shed on so many disorders. Is it that it was under diagnosed previously. Or are there that there truly more autistic children now?
Marie:
That is the $64,000 question. I believe that ADHD is overblown- we are less tolerant of certain behavior and label it aberrant- and immediately prescribe “improvement”.
But, ASD- I am not so sure. Given the data (correlative, not causative) I presented, it’s possible that some factors (emigration, moving in the last trimester) can increase the results. Perhaps the fact that more moms are in the workforce and, therefore, subject to more stress could be an issue (now, there’s a non-politically correct observation). But, we just don’t know- and therein lies the major concern for all nascent moms and dads.
Autism: more and more cases, and still no known cause…http://t.co/OmcSA4SvOY
RT @FrenchYumMummy: Autism: more and more cases, and still no known cause…http://t.co/OmcSA4SvOY
I think that, as for many illnesses, there are a number of factors that cause autism. There might be a genetic element, but it might have something to do with environment, stress during pregnancy, etc…I wish we were putting more efforts into finding out a cure, and integrating autistic people better in our society. Wishful thinking, I know…
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I’m with you on all accounts, Muriel.
BTW, it has been shown that the stress in the end stages of the pregnancy leads to genetic changes/activations, so…