Why do so many children nowadays have Autism?

Question

Thirty years ago, it was estimated that roughly one in 2,500 children had autism, while today some estimate that number to have increased more than tenfold, to as high as one in 166. Why do you think this is?

Answer 1

The trend seems to indicate that autism is on the rise, but in reality, the diagnosis for autism spectrum disorders is really quite recent.

For example, it isn't as if no one 100 years ago had "Asperger's Syndrome." This condition wasn't even identified and until about 1944; it wasn't widely known and labeled/named until 1981; and wasn't added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic reference book until 1994. So, technically, no one would have shown up in a statistic for Asperger's Syndrome prior to 1994.

In times past, people with autism spectrum disorders were often diagnosed with other conditions or not diagnosed at all, and just labeled as idiots or eccentric.

While it is possible that environmental conditions can cause widespread health issues, and autism disorders generally have been linked with abnormalities in the way brains develop in the fetus or in children, I tend not to think that the recent higher statistics are a result of more kids actually having "mental disorders". I believe the statistics are more the product of a society that is eager to define behavioral problems as medical conditions and then try to medicate children and adults.

After hearing a report on public radio and reading up on it, I am pretty sure that I and several members of my family (including great-uncles, etc.) who we previously just thought to be a little eccentric or had strong personalities or quirks, probably had/have mild forms of Asperger's. I don't think it is anything new, and I don't think there are that many more incidents of it now than in times past (as a percentage of the whole population). I'm not sure about the other autism spectrum disorders, but I have heard and read that Asperger's at least is genetic. Mainly, I just think doctors are discovering and re-defining conditions, applying new labels, and these things are becoming vastly more public.

I would also suggest that all of the advertisements and public awareness campaigns actually tend to influence people who are susceptible, and actually promote symptoms in people who are prone to suggestion but otherwise might not exhibit symptoms of some of these conditions.

Answer 2

I think the answer is multi factorial.

There is a strong genetic component.

Mercury is a powerful poison that really seems to have an affect on those disposed to autism.

Better awareness of the problem and lastly

the incredibly high use of chemicals in all our lives.

Parents help their infant and reduce the take over of the body by autism -
Not giving youngsters under two antibiotics unless there is a life threatening condition.
Not using dairy products with a child under two.
Trying to keep to an additive free diet .
And using Gluten free foods.
Personally I would steer well away from multiple vaccinations. I think they overload an already threatened immune system and are given far too young.
As to where my ideas come from. I work with children with Autism.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure what it is...could be the genetics of certain people...that's what I think it is but the scientists haven't found out the cause just yet. I know that the estimate is a whole lot closer than that...at least 1 in 50 (though don't quote me on that but I know it's closer than 1 in 166). And I know it has nothing to do with it being older parents trying to conceive b/c my brother was 22 and his girlfriend (at the time, now wife) was 19 at the time she got pregnant with my oldest nephew.

It could have something to do with the way the mother treats herself when she's pregnant too because my sister-in-law didn't treat herself right (with the way she ate and she picked up stuff that was too heavy and she use to plop down on her butt from the top of a recliner all the time) whenever she was pregnant with my oldest nephew....she done alright with my youngest nephew (he just turned 2) while she was pregnant with him and he's turned out alright so far.

Answer 4

There's a wonderful article online in Wired Magazine called "The Geek Syndrome" about Asperger's, and I think it applies to autism, too. It suggests that, in the old days, the smart-but-odd people tended not to marry. A smart/odd guy might become a monk who invented the printing press, and the smart/odd woman became the spinster librarian. Now, they become computer geeks and meet and marry and have kids and wonder why their kids are so strange. A neurologist friend of mine says that television always makes it seem like average people have autistic kids, but that the ones he sees seem to have parents who have similar issues that are increased in their kids. I think it's easier for parents to blame vaccinations, but that's been studied endlessly in numerous countries and been completely disproven. Still, it's easier to blame something else than your own genetics. I feel for people with autistic kids, but I think there is a genetic factor.

Answer 5

Hi! I am a mother of a 10-yr old boy who had been diagnosed to have an autism. I believe that number of autistic children had been as much as it is today . Its just that lately parents of today are more aware and are willing to come to an open for proper intervention. Moreso, the medical doctors now are more exposed to this and have been making some advanced studies .

Answer 6

Both my nephew and my grandson are autistic my sister (31)under went a traumatic time being in hospital from 30 with high blood pressure they (the hospital ) tried for three weeks to induce using that gel after three weeks of trying they performed an emergency Caesar at 4 week premature my nephew was 8lb 4 oz her 1st baby he is autistic her second pregnancy same high bp no gel baby no 2 was caesared a healthy 10 lb two week early my daughter (18) had a traumatic pregnancy due to the way she was in and out of hospital for the last three week they even sent her home opening up in 1st stage labour telling her to come back next morning as the wards were overfull my grandson was a natural 3 and a half birth 8 lb 4oz he is autistic too her second child she had at 31 is fine I put it down to the hospitals andthe way they treat the mothers in there

Answer 7

We can identify these kids much more easily now. In the olden days (I'm talking 60s, 70s - not that long ago), every school class had at least one oddball kid who everyone knew was different. It's just we didn't know to label them autistic then.

Answer 8

I think it's mostly because of an increase in harmful chemicals in everything from the air we breathe and the food we eat. I also think there is more awareness and less stigma than there was 30 years ago.

Answer 9

Autism was not well known back then so I'm quite positive that it was more common than many believe it to be back then. However, I also fully believe it has a lot to do with parents trying to have kids at older ages.

Answer 10

Mercury !
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6
Has all the Heart breaking but true Answers... Being Heavily suppressed by the Medical Pharmacutrical Giant's.x