[pepBarihepe]

The numbers are rising because we now call them "autistic" rather than "Village idiots".

[avaissema]

I'd put it more politely, but Laz is essentially correct, I think: the condition is diagnosed more frequently. Not always accurately, mind you; probably there are a few people who have some other problem who get misdiagnosed, just like with ADD/ADHD. I don't know of any such cases firsthand, but it seems like a reasonable assumption.

[Gvadelunar]

I don't believe it's the mercury in immunization shots, but it's something chemical in our society that may be causing it. Something the mothers might be eating. Who knows.

[Haftdrarp]

I think Laz is (basically) right. Very likely nothing has changed about the population, but doctors today probably diagnose more children with autism than before. Why? Beats me. If autism (I know nothing about it) is not a 0 / 1 state, bat has a scale going from mildly autistic to very autistic, then perhaps the doctors now stamp more mildly autistic kids as autistic.

[immewaycypef]

doctors need the money, dont take your kids...they could be next ...lol

[RotsLoado]

Back in the day, nerds (with mild autism) were locked into monastaries, celibate. Nowadays, they're being concentrated in areas like Silicon Valley and are breeding kids with full-blown autism.

[thighikergove]

Pollution, irraditition of the planet, processed foods, ect...

[poRmawayncmop]

Abusing the TV as Babysitter
may be one of the reasons, too

[Agehoobionibe]

I'm pretty sure Autism-spectrum disorders are at least partially genetic, Autism and Asperger's Syndrome is unusually common in my mom's side of the family.

[Sensbachtal]

Originally posted by Odin
I'm pretty sure Autism-spectrum disorders are at least partially genetic, Autism and Asperger's Syndrome is unusually common in my mom's side of the family. Indeed. They're almost certainly related to brain development and brain chemical balance, which would be genetic. More than likely one reason for increased autism (in addition to the obvious diagnostic reason) is that autistic people are more likely to have children nowadays ...

[niemamczasu]

They have discovered that the old a father tends to be when contributing his spearm, the great incidence of autism among offsping. A 40-year had a 50% greater chance (remember, it's a very small chance), of having autistic kids than a father in his 20s.

[Breevereurl]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/10/16...eut/index.html

mutated gene article.

[Virosponna]

also we arent killing off autistic children at nearly the rate that we used to. our prolonged lifespans due to improved medicine also contributes to the rise in things like cancer, heart disease, blood pressure, old age being medical problems seen on the rise.

[gundas]

[hechicxxrr]

Originally posted by Eli

She also told me about some American professor around fifty years ago who got his hands on an autistic kid. He called all his students and/or colleagues to show them the rarity, saying to them that they will probably never see someone like this ever again.
Given that Fromm, Bettleheim, others, etc all had theories about Autism, and that presumably they didnt do so without seeing a number of patients with it, the above does not sound credible.

Kahners (sp?), IE full blown autism, was I think not nearly that uncommon 50 years ago. I wonder how many who were simply diagnosed as "retarded" and warehoused in state hospitals and such were actually suffering from autism?

Aspergers I suspect is much more diagnosed.

[bubborn]

It's because kids aren't eating enough meat. Too much tofu causes autism.

[poRmawayncmop]

Originally posted by Elok
It's because kids aren't eating enough meat. Too much tofu causes autism.

[layedgebiamma]

the media just likes to have their pet diseases.

[neeclindy]

Originally posted by General Ludd
I didn't realise you where raised vegetarian. I didn't know you were raised in Chernobyl.

[OlegSan]

Likewise, I have breathed in the exhaust of cars and factories, drank in industrial run-offs, and eaten poisons and contaminants most every single day of my life.