Some Possible Prenatal Causes of Autism

Autism is on the rise. Today the risk of having a child with autism stands at about 1:110. No one is sure if it is on the rise because of better diagnosis procedures or because of more children being diagnosed. Whatever the reason, it stands that you are more likely to have a child with autism, or know a child of autism than ever before.

While scientists haven't been able to pin down one precise cause of autism, there are several things which occur prenatally which may cause autism. It has also been found that there is a strong genetic element to autism. Studies have found that the chances for a child to have autism increases if there is a sibling or other close blood relative with autism.

None of the prenatal causes for autism have been proven 100% to be a cause of autism, but there is significant information to show that they are linked to autism.

One of those things is parental age. The age of the parents when the child is born has a direct impact on the risk of the child of having autism. It isn't sure yet if it is both parents, or just the mother or father. The reasons for this aren't clear. It could be because or increased complications as a parent gets older, as well as risks of mutations. Unlike other issues where maternal age matters more, in this case paternal age factors in more.

One potential prenatal causes of autism include some viral infections that the mother might have while pregnant. This is because the illness can cause the mother's immune system to go into overdrive. As her immune system goes crazy it can attack the foreign cells baby's body. Congenital rubella syndrome is the most common infection. Rubella, or German measles, is also linked to other things like schizophrenia, as well as blindness and deafness in babies.

There are other environmental things that could cause autism and birth defects. Those things are called teratogens. Some of them a woman has control of, others are beyond control. There are several studies exploring alcohol as one of the causes of autism, as well finding out if it's related to birth defects like fetal alcohol syndrome.

Women who are surrounded by specific chemicals that are found in pesticides have been found to have a higher incidence of autism in their families. In families where there is already a genetic element the chances that a child with end up with autism because of exposure to pesticides and fertilizers increase dramatically.

There are a lot of theories behind what causes autism. These theories are the ones that have the most agreement in the scientific community. There are some others that have been put out there, but not a lot of people are doing studies or believe that they are a significant cause. One of those is fetal exposure to ultrasound. There have been studies that have linked neuron disruption in mice with prolonged exposure to ultrasound. However, there hasn't been any significant human studies done on this subject.

There is no one agreed on cause of autism, but there are many things that can happen prior to birth that can push a child with a predisposition to it into having autism.

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The Causes of Autism, Myths and Facts

Parents who have children with autism are wishful in finding the main source and think knowing this could cure or even prevent it. Not one person has found any particular reason why autism is developed in children. Maybe one day, autism may be tied to a specific gene abnormality but the source is most likely not just one thing but a number of possible factors. Autism is not preventable or curable so it's best that we understand all we can about Autism and be willing to make the necessary adjustments to live life the best way possible.

Let's first discuss what parents may think may cause autism, but certainly does not. Bad parenting does not cause autism. When causes were unclear, sometimes parents were blamed for using abusive parenting techniques and psychologically ruining their children causing autism. Another myth is that poor nutrition causes autism. Malnutrition does not cause autism but there are proven cases that children who have autism benefit when taking vitamins.

Many studies do exist showing that there is a link between the brain and autism. These studies show that the autistic people have larger than normal brains. People without autism may have a larger brain but this is just a scientific observation. Although brain size is an observation, it is the actual function of the brain or a malfunction of a part of the brain that causes autism. Another sign of a brain malfunction is children with this disorder have an immune deficiency.

These factors are conclusively genetic. It is not a direct result of the parent's child rearing abilities but can be a gene that was passed through the family gene pool. It is also common that a couple may have another child who has autism. Autism has also been linked to vaccinations, and are being continuously researched. Please discuss these risks and the benefits with your doctor of any vaccination that may have this type of disclaimer. Vaccinations are very important especially today with sickness being so prevalent, but it is just as important to know any risks associated with vaccinations.

Nobody knows what causes autism. Many myths, old wives tales, and assumptions exist but the truth lies in the individual genetic make-up in our bodies. We can do nothing to prevent or cure it, but we can treat and understand the autistic people in our lives the best we can. it is important to be educated about sign, symptoms, and treatments. Autism is an intricate problem, and everyday researchers are looking for better ways to recognize this disease, treat this disease, and eventually find a cure.

I practice what I preach and preach what I practice. I love giving advice and really helping those in need of a better understanding life's challenges. As autism in the world increases, parents need to know as much as they can about this life changing disability. You can visit Complete Autistic Package to get additional resources to get your lives moving in a more helpful direction.

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