What do you think causes autism?
2006-09-25 08:56:51 · 4 answers · asked by mommymoore06 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Genetics play a huge factor in a child's likelihood to have autism, but it's not totally genetics. If one fraternal twin is autistic, the 2nd twin is no more likely to be autistic than siblings born at different times (about 6%). But if one identical twin is autistisc, the 2nd child is at least 10 times more likely to be autistic than siblings born at different times (about 60-80%.) If genes were the sole cause of autism, the identical twin of an autistic child would ALWAYS be autistic. So it appears there are both intrinsic AND extrinsic factors, combined.
But, inspite of anecdotal stories, at least some of the children with autism, developed autism BEFORE 18 months, when the vaccinations take place. There was a study using home old videos taken at first birthday parties & they were able to identify 90% of the kids with autism. If at 12 months, they were already displaying autistic behaviors, the vaccinations couldn't have caused them. That does not rule out the possibility that as much as 10% of the autistic children "get it" from the vaccinations.
2006-09-26 18:36:36 · answer #1 · answered by Smart Kat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work with children who have Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (PDD, Aspergers, etc.) and while no research has come up with an exact cause, I know a lot of my clients feel that the MMR jab has caused the autism in their child. I think it also has something to do with genetics, but again, there is no scientific research to prove this. A lot of families I work with have more than one child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or some other ASD in their blood-related family. Autism can be monitored and given the right resources, kids can do great!
2006-09-25 16:08:05 · answer #2 · answered by betterlife_travel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.
2006-09-25 16:06:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm
Good luck!
2006-09-25 16:05:46 · answer #4 · answered by Weetie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋