What Do We Know About Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Despite general agreements among experts who believe biological factors cause autism, experts have not identified cures or causes (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

Just as SLI, the causes for ASD are not initially clear. It is evident that some biological and genetical causes are in play. Prenatal components are also a possibility. Although many are worried about vaccines causing autism, it is safe to say that there is no basis for this claim. Much research was done on this subject, and the connection has been severed.

Autism according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is defined as “a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, to commutate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.” Autism was believed to be a psychiatric or emotional illness, and doctors told mothers that they were the cause. They were wrong. The cause for autism is still a mystery, however, the facts remain that autism in children is on the rise. Erin Allday of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, “Environmental factors play a more important role in causing autism than previously assumed and, surprisingly, an even larger role than genetic.” There are theories based on that

There are reported to be "no definitive causes of autism, research has found some common risk factors in children who have been diagnosed with this complex disorder. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 150 children will have autism and that number is growing." (p.1) Research is reported to have found a causal

Scientists are still unsure as to what causes autism, but it is most commonly a genetic

Just as there is no duplicate case of autism, there is no one cause. Alternatively, there is a list of causes. Some of the most common include genetic mutation and predisposition as well as environmental factors. Some research shows that women can reduce the chance of their children being autistic by increasing folic acid intake before and following conception. Other research shows that “advanced paternal age can affect the child’s risk” of being

 Evidence:  "There is no single gene or genetic defect that is responsible for autism, but autism is linked to underlying medical condition" (Edwards & Stopplers, 2015, p. 2).

Researching autism is comparable to solving a puzzle one piece at a time. This commonly known neurological disorder affects a child before the age of three (Miller). Autism can affect any child of all races or genders. Each autistic child is unique in their own ways. Even though researchers have been investigating this matter for years, this lifelong condition has no known cause. Some theories have been hypothesized, but have been proven wrong. One example is the theory of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine causing autism. Scientific studies have proven that the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine does not cause autism.

How many of you have brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, or anyone that you know has autism or that have been diagnosed with autism? Many people have this throughout the world, but some people don’t know what they can do about autism because the question is what can they do to help them? How can they help them? Today, rates of autism found in children have increased over the past few decades. However, doctors and scientists do not know what the causes of this mental illness are? Some common assumptions that are considered causes of autism are found through genetics, environmental factors, or when the child is first diagnosed with autism or ASD. “According to a MIT computer scientist with no background in agriculture, genetics, or epidemiology, half the country’s children will be born with autism by 2020s because of the increased genetically modified crops.” (Suresh 4).

experts think it may be something that a child inherits genetically. Some scientists are trying to find out exactly which genes may be responsible for passing down autism in families while other research studies are looking at causes in the child’s surroundings and environments. This report will address the implications of the results for the cause/effect in ASD, and its treatment; also future research

There is no single theory that explains the cause of autism. My feeling is that a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors may be part of the root causes linked to autism. Research has proven that autism is not caused by a single gene, it is rather caused by multiple genes. Twin and family studies strongly suggest that some people have genetic predisposition to autism. Identical twin studies have concluded that if one twin has the disorder, the likely hood that the other will be affected is as high as 95%! Another conclusion is that autistic children have at least 10% missing or extra DNA compared to their parents. Researchers should now focus on determining if environmental factors play a role in autism. A study of environments

Researchers all over the world are devoting considerable time, and energy into finding the answer to the critical question, “What exactly causes autism?” Although a single specific cause of autism is not known, researchers believe several genes as well as environmental factors such as viruses or chemicals, contribute to the disorder. “But finding the genes that cause the disorder has proven far more complicated than originally thought” (DeNoon). Scientists estimate that, in families with one autistic child, the risk of having a second child with the disorder is approximately 5%, or 1 in 20, which is greater than the risk for the general population. This genetic basis is believed by researchers to be highly complex, probably involving several genes in combination.

In my research, I have found that the inconclusive results of autism studies has lead to stunted development in finding effective treatments. Journals, news articles, and medical sources have only further supported this case. Researchers and scientists alike are torn between the type of cause, whether autism comes from genetic or environmental origins. The barriers to finding the cause of autism include the requirement of early detection, the limited amount of signs that appear at an early age, and the few studies focused towards autism. More research studies and projects need to be conducted in order to prevent autism in its tracks, before it fully affects someone.

in life. There are many different theory's out there to explain the cause of Autism.

Kanner and Asperger both thought that autism came from the environment you live in. They blamed the mother for doing something wrong.