What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorders
Possible causes of ASDSo far, the following facts are known about the causes of autism. It is a consequence of a disorder, a malfunction of the mind. There is however no specific cause of autism positively identified yet.
The only widely accepted ideas concerning the cause of autism are that it is considered to be present at birth (though it appears later on in life), is caused by abnormalities in the brain, and may be genetic.
However, what causes the brain abnormalities and which genes are affected by the disorder are still up for debate. One other certainty concerning the cause of ASDs is that it is not a psychological disorder caused by poor parenting, unconsciously rejecting a child, or failing to bond emotionally.
These theories have caused enormous guilt in parents and lack any scientific validity.
Listed are some possible causes of ASD:
- Biological Basis/Brain Structure/Neurotransmitters
- Hereditary/Genetic
- Pregnancy/Birth Injury
- Mercury/Toxins/Vaccinations
Medically speaking, autism is seen as a symptom, a phenomenon or a combination of phenomena with different causes. These causes cover a wide spectrum from genetic (chromosome related) disorders caused by Mendel’s law of Independent Assortment (PKU) to infections and harmful substances like alcohol and Thalidomide.
- Biological basis
Because of its relative inaccessibility, researchers have only recently been able to study the brain systematically. - The hereditary factor
It appears that autism may run in families, since families with multiple children often have more than one child exhibiting signs on the autistic spectrum. - Pregnancy-Birth Injury
The idea that autism is caused by difficulties occurring during the pregnancy or birth process is also being investigated. - Mercury/Toxins/Vaccinations
Toxins ingested by the mother during pregnancy are another cause currently being investigated, as well as environmental factors: some researchers are investigating the idea that autism may be caused by environmental factors such as viruses.
Summary: – Causes of ASD.
There is no single known cause for autism. There are many theories about potential causes and it appears that multiple factors are involved. Autism Spectrum Disorders are physical disorders of the brain that are neurologically based and are not emotional disorders. Parents do not cause autism.
The exact cause remains unclear, as we still do not understand how autism affects the structure of the brain, the brain function, or brain chemistry. Diagnosis of autism is difficult as there is no definitive biological test that confirms it, and so there are people who may be well into adulthood before autism is diagnosed.
The biological basis for ASD is unclear although there does seem to be a genetic component. Autism has also been associated with a wide range of pre-, peri-, and postnatal difficulties.
