aimee: I think that the kids may be genetically predisposed to autism, but I strongly feel that chemical or physical traumas can trigger the actual onset. There have been studies done on oxytocin levels during birth and shortly after and the relationship to autism have shown that either too much or too little can cause autistic type behaviours in children, but it's not 100% of the time. There are some docs who treat the symptoms with nasal oxytocin spray and have had good results. I wonder if the high levels of pitocin I was given during delivery may have played a role in my son's asperger's since he has exhibited these behaviours since infancy.
There have also been studies done on pesticide levels in the blood and a correlation to autistic behaviours has been found, but again not 100% of the time. There is anecdotal evidence of a link with immunizations which has been medically disproved, but how do you explain a 2 year old on schedule developmentally and then two weeks after a multiple immunization not talking or making eye contact anymore!? Let alone thousands of 2 year olds that it has happened to?
I think that it's a combo of nature and nurture and we may never really know what causes each child's autism, but it is truly fascinating to me the studeis and the theories behind it all!
Adanma
I have never heard of the oxytocin link... quite interesting...
I also wanted to note that the link between immunizations and behavioural disorders has not been completely medically disproved and there have been studies (specifically involving vaccinations with thimersol) which have been positively shown to be associated with an increase in autism spectrum disorders as well as other behavioural conditions. Many places have eliminated thimerosal from their vaccines because of this but some have not eg here in Canada we still have immunizations with thimersol in it including the H1N1 vaccine which contains 50 μg of thimersol (mercury)
Here's some studies which looked at this... I included a brief description of the study and it's results.
A Case Series of Children with Apparent Mercury Toxic Encephalopathies Manifesting with Clinical Symptoms of Regressive Autistic Disorders * Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues, 1087-2620, Volume 70, Issue 10, 2007, Pages 837 851. Authors: David A. Geiera; Mark R. Geierb --- "Results: Impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, and stereotypic abnormal movement patterns characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is clear that while genetic factors are important to the pathogenesis of ASDs, mercury exposure can induce immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits defining or associated with ASDs)...the study looked at children's exposure to vaccines with thimerosal in it as well as fetal exposure to Rhogam which also contains thimerosal.
An Evaluation of the Effects of Thimerosal on Neurodevelopmental Disorders Reported Following DTP and Hib Vaccines in Comparison to DTPH Vaccine in the United States
David A. Geier; Mark R. Geier
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issues, 1087-2620, Volume 69, Issue 15, 2006, Pages 1481 1495
"Significantly increased odds ratios for autism, speech disorders, mental ******ation, infantile spasms, and thinking abnormalities reported to VAERS were found following DTP vaccines in comparison to DTPH vaccines with minimal bias or systematic error." The DTP consisted of 50 μg mercury and the DTPH vaccine had only 25 μg mercury.
Hepatitis B triple series vaccine and developmental disability in US children aged 19 years
Carolyn Gallagher; Melody Goodman
Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 1029-0486, Volume 90, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 997 1008 "This study found statistically significant evidence to suggest that boys in United States who were vaccinated with the triple series Hepatitis B vaccine, during the time period in which vaccines were manufactured with thimerosal, were more susceptible to developmental disability than were unvaccinated boys."
But in the end I agree that it's likely a combo of many factors which result in autistic spectrum disorders..... I also believe that different predisposing factors result in different disorders in different children which all manifest themselves with autistic symptoms.... So essentially there are many different "conditions" all displaying the same symptoms so they are being grouped together... if that makes sense