Does TV Cause Autism?

Answer 1

Cornell University researchers report a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state.

They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, childhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders.

The crux of their argument appears to be that autism is higher in states with lots of precipitation, which means children are inside more, which means they're probably watching more television. They also say they have shown that autism is higher in counties where subscriptions to cable TV are higher.

The aggressive marketing intended to encourage television watching by toddlers may turn out to have been a nightmarish mistake.

These findings of the Cornell Uniersity has been challenged by some on the ground that it is an attempt to establish a scientific fact on the basis of a statistical survey.However, the objectors do accept that the findings may contain a grain of truth but perhaps some X factor may be the real cause. The rate of autisam has gone up from l in 2500 to 1 in 170 with the popularisation of TV with cable networks etc. which is significant but the matter needs more in-depth investigation.

Answer 2

A while back, a study came out that suggested the idea that, since cable TV and autism increased in popularity at the same time, there might be a connection. There is no evidence whatever to support the idea that allowing your child to watch a lot of television could possibly cause autism

Answer 3

ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) is a pervasive developmental disorder, and the causes of ASDs are much debated. There is thought to be a strong genetic link and as it is on a spectrum you will often find someone with ASD to have a parent/both parents to have autistic traits but are less far along the spectrum. Other people argue that autism is caused by the MMR vaccine but this is a very contravercial matter.
I have never heard of Autism being caused by TV, but you may find that someone with Autism to be obsessed with a certain TV programme (due to the ritualistic side of Autism) and also someone with Autism might refrain from social interaction thereby finding TV watching a more suitable alternative as it is not socially challenging.

Answer 4

If I showed that cell phone usage increased just as autism increased, would that mean cell phones caused autism.

What about rap music? Rap music had become a commercially popular music genre and began to enter the American mainstream in the early 80's just as autism rates started to climb. As much as I'd love to, I can't pretend rap music caused autism.

The point? Just because one thing starts to rise just as another starts to rise, does NOT mean one caused the other.

But TV certainly doesn't help. You get a child with a condition that makes it difficult for him to connect with people & sit him in fron of the TV all day, he wil have even a greater difficulty learning to socialize.

Perhaps TV increased the severity of autism, therefore increasing the diagnosis rate, therefore increasing public awareness, therefore helping children with less severe autism (like Asperger's) get diagnosed. Perhaps. ; )

Answer 5

Seriously effects children in the age between 1-3 yrs.old.

Answer 6

Can Watching Tv Cause Autism