Causes of Autism

Unfortunately, we do not know all of the causes of ASD. However, through much research and time, we have learned that there are likely many causes for multiple types of ASD. As we’ve discussed in episode 2, there is quite a wide spectrum of children when we talk about ASD. There are children that are extremely gifted with numbers and academics but has a really difficult time socializing with others. You also have children that have extreme high levels of maladaptive behaviors such as aggression, property destructions, self injurious behaviors and have minimal or 0 level of vocal communication. Because there are so many different severity levels within the autism spectrum, it’s difficult to say that one factor impacts the severity of the diagnosis. The autism spectrum disorder affects children of all races and nationalities, but certain factors increase a child's risk.

• Most scientists agree that genes are one of the risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop ASD.
• A child's biological sex can also be a factor. Boys are about four times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder than girls are.
• Family history. Families who have one child with ASD have an increased risk of having another child with the disorder. It's also not uncommon for parents or relatives of a child with ASD to have minor problems with social or communication skills themselves or to engage in certain behaviors typical of the disorder.
• Other disorders. Children with certain medical conditions have a higher than normal risk of ASD or autism-like symptoms. Some examples include fragile X syndrome and Rett syndrome
• Extremely preterm babies. Babies born before 26 weeks of gestation may have a greater risk of autism spectrum disorder.
• Parents' ages. There may be a connection between children born to older parents and autism spectrum disorder, but more research is necessary to establish this link.

Let me remind you that these are just some POTENTIAL factors that might increase the risk that a child may have autism, there are other speculations that are being researched and studied, so the autism research community will definitely be needing more time and data. 

ASD continues to be an important public health concern. Like the many families that have been impacted by autism, the CDC wants to find out exactly what causes the disorder. Understanding these different factors that make a person more likely to develop ASD will help identify more information about the causes. One of the largest U.S. studies to date is SEED (S-E-E-D): Study to Explore Early Development (SEED). SEED is currently looking at many possible risk factors for ASD, including genetic, environmental, pregnancy, and behavioral factors. SEED is a valuable resource for testing hypotheses regarding ASD characteristics and causes. I’ll link you guys to this research study and some helpful pdf documents on our facebook page, @whattheautism. 

Although there is much more research that needs to be conducted, it’s important that as a community of autism advocates, treatment providers, educators, and parents, we find ways to contribute to the future of autism research. One easy way is to stay informed on the current research that is happening. Even though there’s a long list of possible factors and variables that might contribute to a child being diagnosed with autism, it’s an extensive list of possibilities that research needs more time to continue to digging through in order to find more answers. There aren’t any research studies that solely identifies that THIS specific variable causes autism, as many of these possible factors are just possible risks factors for the diagnosis. But as a treatment provider, an educator, an advocate, or a parent, please don’t be discouraged. I want to empower our community with hope for the future and the answers that research will continue to provide for us. There are tons of top tier universities such as Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UCLA, and many more that are dedicating research from their medical schools and public health departments to better understand the causes of autism, which would in turn help us better identify ways to prevent the future generations of children from having to experience the obstacles that come with the autism diagnosis. 

Individuals with the autism diagnosis experience many problems with social interactions, communication and behavior which can often times lead to:

• Problems in school and with successful learning
• Employment problems
• Inability to live independently
• Social isolation
• Stress within the family
• Victimization and being bullied

So it’s extremely important that we continue to show our support to our researchers and fulfill our due diligence in staying up to date on the current research and make informed decisions when it comes to our children.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the current and future research studies being conducted to better identify the different causes of autism, I recommend you follow our podcast and connect with us on our facebook and instagram page @whattheautism.