AUTISM...where did it come from?
By bonggo
@bonggo (12)
Philippines
February 8, 2007 8:53pm CST
Would you know the origins of autism? Is it..
1) environmental?
2) social?
3) genetics?
4) tv?
5) milk?
I dont know for sure. Maybe somebody could enlighten me on this..
6 responses
@skittles46 (388)
• United States
9 Feb 07
Well, what causes autism is still a great debate in the medical field. I personally have a theory or two.
I think it is an underlieing genetic cause, that is started by "triggers" which could be varied for each individual.
Personally I believe there are many potential "triggers". Ranging anywhere from environmental issues, to diet, to malnutrition due to the lack of vitamins/minerals in the soil that were once there, to things in the vaccines, to TV/video games, etc.
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
9 Feb 07
It seems it is coming from the vaccines we are giving our children. Something to do with the mercury. There are some good discussions on here. You might want to do a mylot search on autism.
@etheljeah (98)
• Canada
10 Feb 07
im sorry but i dont think i agree with you.. authism cant be get from vaccinations or injections that the child receives,its more a genetics matter. its like if in the past generation someone in your family or the family of your spouse suffered from authism,then most probably in the three or four next generation,someone will come out as autistic.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
24 Feb 07
I think even if we stopped giving kids shots altogether, they would still develop autism. Many parents have opted over the years not to give their children shots. I would be curious to know how many children out there have autism that did not get any vaccinations, or who had very few. I'm not saying it isn't possible.. I think for some children, it's quite possible that the vaccinations "put them over the edge". However, I don't think you are fine one minute, have a shot, then have Autism the next. I think we will still continue to see cases of Autism, as more and more parents choose not to give their children their vaccinations.
@beautifulceiling (1300)
• United States
9 Feb 07
I don't know that much about it but the vaccines theory seems to make quite a bit of sense. But sometimes I think that with these things we try to find "a" cause when there might be multiple causes. I think it's possible that any number of things could contribute to the increased potential for autism.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
24 Feb 07
I don't think it's TV or milk. I don't think it's social. I think of 5 you mentioned, it's more likely to be found in genetics and perhaps because of all the toxins in our environment.
• United States
9 Oct 08
Recent research has indicated genetics. The spectrum of autism is rather varied because of the variety of genes and the interaction of them. Not really remembering off the top of my head, the article I read suggested that as few as three and upwards of (this is the number I am fuzzy on) 20 genes come into play when looking at autism. The same article mentioned how they genetically engineered mice with many of the same symptoms as aspergers.
I think that its become more prevalent these days because of increased awareness. In essence Autism was re-discovered in the 1980's by a researcher who resumed work on the study of Kanner's autism and Asperger's syndrome. This British scientist figured out she was looking at different facets of the same disorder.
Since then, awareness and information has brought more people who needed help to light. My mother had Aspergers in the 40s before the medical profession really knew what it was. As such, she was misdiagnosed.
My son has been diagnosed with PDD -- so no one can tell me that Autism and its many forms is not genetic.
