Autism

[[File:Four Kids with Signs of Autism.png|thumb|right|Autistic art showing four autistic children exhibiting signs of autism, which are sensory sensitivities, passionate interests, repetitive behavior, and social confusion.]]
{{psychology}}
{{cquote|Half the employees at Silicon Valley tech companies would be diagnosed with Asperger’s if they allowed themselves to be diagnosed, which they avoid like the proverbial plague. I’ve been to their offices; I’ve seen the work force up close. Many of the hits on my home page come from Silicon Valley and other areas with a high concentration of tech industries.|||{{wpl|Temple Grandin}}<ref>'' The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed '' by Temple Grandin (2014) Mariner Books. ISBN 0544227735.</ref>{{rp|105}}}}
'''Autism''', also known as '''autism spectrum disorder''', is an inborn and lifelong developmental disorder that impacts or sometimes enhances — among other things — language, communication and socialization. It is often referred to as a spectrum, because different autistic people experience different traits in different ways.

==Identification and classification==
===History===
Since the 1920s, the traits correlated with Asperger's syndrome were thought to have been first described by a Soviet child psychiatrist named Grunya Sukhareva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-history-forgot-the-woman-who-defined-autism/|title=How History Forgot the Woman Who Defined Autism|last=|first=|date=November 10, 2018|website=Scientific American|access-date=May 09, 2020}}</ref> It was later uncovered that her work on autism may have led to the foundation of the condition. In the 1940s, [[Austria]]n psychologist [[Hans Asperger]] published his first paper about what he called "autistic psychopathy," detailing traits Sukhareva first described decades before his interest into the condition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mentaldaily.com/article/2020/04/what-are-the-characteristics-of-a-person-with-aspergers|title=What Are The Characteristics Of A Person With Asperger’s?|last=|first=|date=April 17, 2020|website=Mental Daily|access-date=May 09, 2020}}</ref> The psychiatric community has become increasingly aware that people with autistic traits are not "[[psychopath]]s", as they were once (and are sometimes still) labeled.  We also now know that autism is a spectrum, with different people having different intensities of traits and needing different amounts of support.

While [[Hans Asperger]] was first believed to be a hero who protected his patients from the Nazis by emphasizing their positive traits, a closer investigation has revealed that he collaborated with Nazis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/opinion/sunday/nazi-history-asperger.html|title=The Nazi History behind "Asperger"|last=Sheffer|first=Edith|date=March 31, 2018|website=The New York Times|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref>

===Signs of autism===
Autism is a lifelong<ref>[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02701960.2016.1247073?journalCode=wgge20 Autism aging] - Gerontology & Geriatrics Education</ref> developmental disability that impacts social skills, behavior, development, and the way a person experiences the world. 
*
[[Ableism|Being a demon]]

*Developmental delays in speech and quirks ranging from being non-verbal to having brilliant vocabularies
*Over- or under-sensitive senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste, etc.)
*Appearing to be emotionless on the surface at all times. May speak in a flat, monotone, or in a sing-song tone.
*Aloofness 
*Repetitive self-calming behavior, known as "stimming” (e.g. repeating the same word, hand flapping, walking around in circles, rocking)
*Difficulty maintaining eye contact
*Need for routine
*Strict, inflexible adherence to rules.
*Difficulty discerning what others are thinking through intuition alone (can be confused with lack of caring or a lack of empathy)
*Difficulty understanding and managing emotions or reading social cues 
*Difficulty with understanding idioms, metaphors, similes, analogies, innuendos, irony, and sarcasm. Tends to be very literal and black and white in thinking and communication styles.
*Executive dysfunction
*Excessive, sometimes inappropiate politeness
*Communicates in a very formal, pretentious, and outdated style - speaks more similar to writing than to speaking.
*Deadpan or unique sense of humour
*Intense and obsessive passions, called "special interests". 
*Could be seen as a "walking encyclopedia", especially on topics of special interests.
*Unable to be interested in or see the big picture. For example, a person who may enjoy sports may be interested in memorizing baseball statistics instead of simply watching or playing the sport.
* The ability to hyperfocus on a task or hobby to the exclusion of everything else
*Tends to love to collect things- many collections are related to special interests or may be some obscure items such as buttons, bottle caps, etc. Note that collecting is a very common hobby with neurotypicals - it is the intensity of the hobby.
*Difficulty recognizing faces (similar, but not quite as severe and with a different underlying cause, to {{wpl|prosopagnosia}})
*Extreme sincerity
*Logical thinking 
*Having a meltdown (such as headbanging) from over-stimulated loud noises or bright lights
*Burnout (as a result of a meltdown)
*Lack of vulnerability to peer pressure
*Inappropriate or odd clothing/fashion choices.  Many times these clothing/fashion choices may be sensory based or poor understanding of "unwritten social cues and norms".
These signs aren’t diagnostic criteria; it's typical for each person to have different amounts of each trait, and not every autistic person may have every trait associated with autism. Some of these traits also manifest in other disorders such as ADHD, including executive dysfunction and emotional control issues. Also, many of these traits are also very common with neurotypicals such as logical thinking.

Some autistic traits can be positive, such as pattern recognition skills and passionate interests. As with all people with mental health disorders, people with positive traits still require support in other areas, and people with high support needs can have positive traits too.

Note that special interests are not to be confused with "fandoms". In recent years, many "fandoms" have become more socially acceptable and part of mainstream culture. The rise of the internet and social media made it easier for people with their fandoms or special interests to find niche communities; something that was more difficult in the past, regardless if you are neurotypical or neurodivergent.

Simply being part of a fandom or even having a passionate hobby or interest doesn't make you automatically autistic. Neither does social awkwardness, social isolation, or plain shyness would too.  

===Testing for autism===
Testing for autism can be difficult, since there are no distinct markers. People may be diagnosed through personal interviews and questionnaires, and sometimes by qualitative observation by a team of caregivers and professionals. A more accurate diagnosis of autism may require more comprehensive physical examinations by a medical doctor or professional and may involve MRI scans, EEG, blood tests, etc along with more long term observation.

Getting a diagnosis can be harder for women and girls, and for people of color, as research on autism has historically been focused on white males,<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/health-37221030 Autism in women 'significantly under-diagnosed']</ref><ref>https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/07/31/539123377/social-camouflage-may-lead-to-underdiagnosis-of-autism-in-girls 'Social Camouflage' May Lead To Underdiagnosis Of Autism In Girls]</ref><ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/areva-martin/children-of-color-and-aut_b_6133354.html Children of Color and Autism: Too Little, Too Late]</ref><ref>[http://autisticadvocacy.org/2018/04/asan-statement-on-2018-cdc-prevalence-data/ ASAN Statement on 2018 CDC Prevalence Data]</ref>  Research also continues to be heavily focused on infants and children, making it harder for adults to seek diagnosis or support.<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4940003/</ref>

Depending on the amount of [[woo]] involved, the fact that people who are ''unusual'' but not ''struggling'' can be diagnosed as autistic (and suffer the consequences)<ref>[http://barryprizant.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/asq_misdiagnosis_of_asd_summer_2012.pdf On the Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder]</ref> can be used as rational criticism of modern clinical psychology, or as fodder for [[crank]] theories about autism being a [[Aspie supremacy|higher level of evolution]].

===Subtypes of autism===
[[File:Ice cream display.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Some have compared autism to an ice cream sundae bar, with each person getting different traits in different amounts.<ref>[https://researchautism.org/accepting-others-experiences/ Organization for Autism Research: Accepting Others' Experiences]</ref>]]
Under the DSM-IV, autism was a subset of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, along with Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Under the DSM-5, all previously distinct autistic disorders are now classified and diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Rett Syndrome (determined in the late 1990s to result from any of several X chromosome abnormalities) and CDD have been reclassified as distinct disorders.

While groups like [[Aspie supremacy|aspie supremacists]] try to claim that there are distinct "types" of autism, the reality is that autistic people are so diverse that it is difficult to form any clear categories at all. Research has found that labels like "high-functioning" and "low-functioning" are meaningless and misleading.<ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361319852831 The misnomer of 'high functioning autism': Intelligence is an imprecise predictor of functional abilities at diagnosis]</ref>

==Causes and controversy==
The exact causes of autism are unclear, though it is believed a genetic component increases the likelihood.

People have proposed all kind of causes for autism. People have claimed that autism is linked to heavy metal exposure,<ref>[https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/baby-teeth-link-autism-heavy-metals-nih-study-suggests NIH - Baby teeth link autism and heavy metals, NIH study suggests]</ref> a so-called "insanity virus" called human endogenous retrovirus W or HERV-W or the Herpes Simplex virus,<ref>[http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jun/03-the-insanity-virus/article_view?b_start:int=0&-C]</ref> maternal fever during pregnancy,<ref>[https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20170614/fever-during-pregnancy-tied-to-autism-in-study#1 Fever During Pregnancy Tied to Autism in Study]</ref> and more. So many causes have been proposed that the autistic community has produced numerous parodies detailing "causes" of autism.<ref>[https://thingsthatcauseautism.tumblr.com/ "Things That Cause Autism" (satire)]</ref><ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2015/02/this-just-in-being-alive-causes-autism.html This Just In ... Being Alive Linked to Autism]</ref>

The [[vegan]] and [[animal rights]] activist group [[PETA]] has launched a scare campaign claiming that the ingestion of dairy products from cow's [[milk]] causes autism.  There is no scientific basis for this belief.<ref>Emily Willingham, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2014/05/28/peta-milk-linked-to-scary-autism-and-vegan-is-your-only-hope/#22e8d99543f3 PETA: Milk Linked To Scary Autism And Vegan Is Your Only Hope], ''Forbes'', May 28, 2014</ref>

Some people are concerned that looking for a genetic cause of autism could lead to prenatal testing and selective abortion.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2009/jan/14/autism-health I don't want to be 'cured' of autism, thanks]</ref>

There is a large controversy within the Autistic and Neurodiversity communities about supporting a "cure" or treatments "to reduce" one's autism, or autistic symptoms, with many autistics and ND people on both sides feeling very strongly with their beliefs, often greatly influenced from personal experience and often leads to great amounts of infighting within said communities. That being said however, there often tends to be certain groups from Neurotypicals on both the pro and anti cure axis who tend to generalize autistic peoples diverse thoughts and nuanced beliefs regarding a cure to suit their own agenda. A good example would again be [[Autism Speaks]] who assumes that most autistics would support or at least benefit from a cure whether or not they would want one. However this can also be applied to certain Neurotypicals or those who self-diagnose who advocate entirely for no cure or treatments whatsoever even for the most severe of people on the spectrum.{{citation needed}}

===Actual science===
There likely is not a single one cause for autism.  Most likely, a variety of factors increase the risk, and from there it's just luck of the draw.  While not proven, it's believed that maternal inflammation early in pregnancy increases the risk of autism.<ref>[https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/prenatal-inflammation-linked-autism-risk Prenatal inflammation linked to autism risk, NIH]</ref>  Environmental factors also play a role, and it's believed that the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA), an additive to plastics that leaches into the water supply, can cause endocrine disruption during fetal development.  Interestingly, this disruption seems to be linked to both autism and transsexuality, which may explain why there's an overlap between the two.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119114349.htm Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder, Science Daily]</ref><ref>[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27623126/ Autism spectrum disorders and bisphenol A: Is serotonin the lacking link in the chain?, NIH]</ref><ref>[https://www.endocrine-abstracts.org/ea/0037/ea0037ep208 An endocrine disrupting chemical, bisphenol A: could it be associated with sex differentiation in brain regarding to transsexuality? Endocrine Abstracts]</ref>

It has been recently shown that the deletion of a section of chromosome 17 results in a 14-fold increase in the chance of having schizophrenia or being on the autism spectrum.  David H. Ledbetter, a genetics professor at Emory University stated "Not all people with autism, a developmental delay or schizophrenia have this deletion, but all people who have the chromosome change will develop some form of the disorders, whether it's mild or strong enough for a diagnosis".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101111190836/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40073108/ns/health-mental_health/ MSN - Study: Chromosome Change Points to Autism]</ref><ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2978962/</ref>

===The nonexistent epidemic===
[[File:Autism Prevalence to 2014.png|thumb|right|165px|Increases in autism diagnosis to 2014. Experts are becoming better at identifying autism.]]
The increase in autism diagnoses has led to tales of an "autism epidemic." Yet a rise in diagnoses does not automatically mean a rise in autism.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/making-sense-autistic-spectrum-disorders/201607/autism-epidemic-or-explosion-and-why-it-matters Autism: Epidemic or Explosion? (And Why It Matters)]</ref><ref>[https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/large-swedish-study-casts-doubt-on-autism-epidemic/ Large Swedish study casts doubt on autism 'epidemic']</ref>
* The definition of autism has changed to include more people.<ref>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-real-reasons-autism-rates-are-up-in-the-u-s/ The Real Reasons Autism Rates Are Up in the U.S.]</ref>
* Increasing knowledge of autism may lead more autistic people to get diagnosed, instead of suffering in silence.<ref>[https://iancommunity.org/lost-generation-growing-up-autism-before-epidemic A Lost Generation: Growing Up with Autism Before the "Epidemic"]</ref>
* Under-diagnosed groups, such as people of color and women, are now getting more diagnoses.<ref>[https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2018/4/28/17295398/cdc-autism-rates-epidemic-diagnosis-vaccines-myth The CDC just announced one in 59 children are autistic. Here's why that's not evidence of an epidemic.]</ref><ref>[http://autisticadvocacy.org/2018/04/asan-statement-on-2018-cdc-prevalence-data/ ASAN Statement on 2018 CDC Prevalence Data]</ref>
* In a few cases, children with Sensory Processing Disorder may be misdiagnosed as autistic so that they can access accommodations at school.<ref>[https://autisticmama.com/everyone-is-autistic/ 5 Simple Reasons it Seems Like Everyone is Autistic Nowadays]</ref>

Some people believe that the incidence of autism may be rising due to more autistic and autistic-like people having children. Online dating could be a causing factor. Before online dating was common, couples meet organically and simply dated who was around them. Finding a person with strange interests or poor social skills was simply essentially out of the dating pool.  But now, thanks to the internet, people with niche interests (who are more likely to be autistic in many ways) are able to meet each other, which results in people having more children with these traits.<ref>https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S030698772030195X</ref>  Thanks to the rise of IT and other industries, "Guys who might never have had a prayer of finding a kindred spirit suddenly discover that she's hacking Perl scripts in the next cubicle."<ref>http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html</ref>

Another factor with the rise of autism is a result of "overmedicalization of misbehavior", especially with children that are school age. In the past, when a child misbehaves, the teacher may blame to parents or the child themselves for the misbehavior and may expect the parents or child to intervene. But recently, a teacher will refer this misbehaving child to a counselor/social worker which in many results in a recommendation for an autism diagnosis. Schools also benefit financially as well from these diagnoses, as they may get state and federal funding (such as from the Individuals with Disabilities Act) for each student diagnosed with autism.<ref>https://nypost.com/2024/11/14/opinion/autism-is-skyrocketing-due-to-medicalization-of-misbehavior/</ref>

Nevertheless, hype about an "epidemic" has not disappeared, and it continues to feed myths about causes of an increase in autism.

===Vaccine hysteria===
{{main|Vaccine hysteria#Autism}}
In the 1990s and the 2000s, [[vaccine hysteria]] linking childhood vaccinations to autism broke on both sides of the Atlantic. In the [[UK]], it was fueled by [[Andrew Wakefield]]'s fraudulent study claiming the [[MMR vaccine]] caused autism.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/autism.vaccines/index.html Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal finds]</ref><ref>[http://time.com/5175704/andrew-wakefield-vaccine-autism/ The Vaccine-Autism Myth Started 20 Years Ago. Here's Why It Still Endures Today]</ref> In the US, the focus was on [[thimerosal]], a preservative used in some "dead" vaccines. Both hypotheses have been thoroughly discredited by the medical community worldwide, yet [[Crank|some people]] still hold on to this idea.

Many autistic individuals point out, with appreciable validity, that even '''if''' vaccines caused autism, advising against vaccination sends a message that autistic people would be better off dead of horrible and easily preventable diseases.<ref>Cohen-Rottenberg, R. (2013, January 18). [http://www.disabilityandrepresentation.com/ableism-in-the-anti-vaccination-movement-a-qualitative-content-analysis-of-the-great-mothers-facebook-page/ Ableism in the Anti-Vaccination Movement: A Qualitative Content Analysis of the Great Mothers Facebook Page]. ''Disability and Representation: Changing the Cultural Conversation.''</ref><ref>[https://medium.com/the-archipelago/im-autistic-and-believe-me-its-a-lot-better-than-measles-78cb039f4bea I’m Autistic, And Believe Me, It’s A Lot Better Than Measles]</ref> That's a pretty cruel and irresponsible thing to suggest, especially considering the high risk of suicide in autistic people.<ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2016/07/the-effects-of-stigmatizing-language-on.html The Effects of Stigmatizing Language on Suicidal Autistics]</ref><ref>[https://www.health.com/childhood-vaccines/how-anti-vaccine-movement-hurts-autistic-people Here’s How the Anti-Vaccination Movement Hurts Autistic People]</ref>

The [[Autism omnibus trial]] settled the case.

The idea that autism is a fate worse than death can have devastating consequences. One example is the fate of Katie McCarron. Her mother felt guilty over "giving" her autism by vaccinating her, and then tried to atone for it with a "[[filicide|mercy killing]]".<ref>[http://www.notdeadyet.org/katie-mccarron Katie McCarron] - Not Dead Yet</ref> This<ref>Drake, S. (2002). [https://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0902/0902ft2.html Mercy! Here we go again]. ''Ragged Edge''.</ref> phenomenon<ref>Sobsey, D. (2001, March). ''[http://www.notdeadyet.org/why-we-shouldnt-blame-the-murders-of-disabled-kids-on-lousy-services Why we shouldn’t blame the murders of disabled kids on lousy services]''. Not Dead Yet.</ref> is neither unique<ref>Rundle, D. P. (2006, April 23). [http://www.notdeadyet.org/look-for-annie-abuse Look for Annie, Abuse]. ''The Wichita Eagle''.</ref> nor isolated<ref>Drake, S. (2002). [http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/0302/0302ft7.html From 'mercy killing' to 'domestic violence': Shirley Harrison, the Chicago Media and Not Dead Yet]. ''Ragged Edge''.</ref> to autism.

===Antidepressant hysteria===
A limited study suggested a link between [[antidepressant]]s and autism.<ref>[http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/the-panic-du-jour-antidepressants-and-autism/ The panic du jour: Antidepressants and autism] - The Incidental Economist</ref> A different study found no link.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25155880%20 Prenatal antidepressant exposure is associated with risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder but not autism spectrum disorder in a large health system.]</ref>

Antidepressants are good for pregnant mothers who need them. Researchers have also found some positive effects for the babies, who were less likely to be born preterm or to be born via c-section.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26238606 Pregnancy Complications Following Prenatal Exposure to SSRIs or Maternal Psychiatric Disorders: Results From Population-Based National Register Data.]</ref> Logically speaking, having a mother who is happier, following a better eating and sleeping schedule, and has less stress hormones is probably good for a baby. Moms who took antidepressants during pregnancy do not need to feel bad about it.

However, giving antidepressants to autistic people without medical reason may cause harm. It was noted that "We can't recommend SSRIs as treatments for children, or adults, with autism at this time. However, decisions about the use of SSRIs for co-occurring obsessive-compulsive disorder, aggression, anxiety or depression in individuals with autism should be made on a case by case basis." It is possible that in some cases autistic individuals, particularly those who have conditions such as anxiety or depression that may warrant SSRI use, may benefit from these drugs.<ref>https://www.livescience.com/8457-study-antidepressants-autistic-children.html</ref><ref>https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/autisms-drug-problem/</ref>

==="Refrigerator mothers"===
An outdated hypothesis of yore posited bad parenting (specifically cold, unloving parents; hence the comparison to refrigerators) as a cause of autism. This is now a discredited cause of autism, as it is now understood to be inborn<ref>[https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/everything-pregnancy/docs-autism-starts-in-the-2nd-trimester-of-pregnancy/ Docs: Autism Starts in the 2<sup>nd</sup> Trimester of Pregnancy]</ref> and predominantly [[genetic]].<ref>[https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2019/07/18/autism-mostly-caused-genetics-study/26916/ Autism mostly caused by genetics, study finds] — Disability Scoop</ref> However, reactive attachment disorder in children, which can resemble autism, may be caused by unloving parents (though it has other potential causes too).<ref>[https://case.edu/affil/sce/Texts_2005/Autism%20and%20Representation%20Silverman.htm From Disorders of Affect to Mindblindness: Framing the History of Autism Spectrum Disorders] (search "reactive attachment" for the relevant paragraph)</ref><ref>[https://www.cebc4cw.org/search/topic-areas/dsm-5-criteria-for-reactive-attachment-disorder-rad/ DSM-5 Criteria for Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)] The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare</ref>

{{wpl|Leo Kanner}} blamed parents for autism as early as 1943, claiming that autism was caused by a "genuine lack of maternal warmth."<ref name="watch" /> He concluded that mothers just needed to be more affectionate. {{wpl|Bruno Bettleheim}} popularized the refrigerator mother theory in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name="watch">[https://www.autism-watch.org/causes/rm.shtml The "Refrigerator Mother" Hypothesis of Autism] - Autism Watch </ref> His book ''The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self'' introduced the idea of the refrigerator mother (and plenty of other autism-related nonsense) to the general population.<ref name="verywell">[https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-refrigerator-mothers-were-blamed-for-autism-260135 Why "Refrigerator" Mothers Were Blamed For Autism] - Very Well Health</ref> Bernard Rimland, a psychologist with an autistic son and the founder of the [[Autism Research Institute]], criticized the idea of the refrigerator mother in 1964.<ref name="watch" /> By the 1970s, the idea fell from popularity.<ref name="verywell" />

===Increased screen time===

Another theory is that autism rates had exploded ever since digital technologies such as iPads and video games had become more accessible to children. Instead of having the children play outside to develop their social and motor skills, along with gaining tolerance to different sensory environments, many kids are spending time with digital technologies such as smartphones and iPads. The internet has also enabled people to have more "special interests" than before. Before the internet, if a person wanted more information on their preferred topic, they mostly got the information from books and magazines and the information was limited. 
Many kids may be showing "autistic like behavior" which may be causing the rise of autism diagnoses, which may be result of increased screen time. Although there may be increases of autistic like behaviors with screen time, there is no evidence that screen time causes autism.<ref>Center of Excellence on Social Media  and Youth Mental Health, [https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/early-childhood-screen-time-brain-development-and-autism/?srsltid=AfmBOorLoayElqqz597JEDZGQ5En5pbOydWiihwiBqnvObkqrynnl2zx Early childhood screen time, brain development, and autism]. American Academy of Pediatrics, 7 February 2024.</ref> iPads and other digital technologies if used right could be beneficial for people with autism, such as giving a person with non verbal autism the ability to communicate via an iPad.

==Pseudoscientific treatments==
{{cquote|If I use anti-virus on my computer will it get autism?|||shittyaskscience<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/shittyaskscience/comments/35p34d/if_i_use_antivirus_on_my_computer_will_it_get/</ref>}}
Because all the stigma and fearmongering about autism, parents of autistic children may feel desperate and hopeless.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/09/fringe-therapies-spectrum/501023/ The Dangers of Snake-Oil Treatments for Autism]</ref><ref>[http://www.wired.co.uk/article/why-are-we-treating-autism-like-an-epidemic Why are we still treating autism like an epidemic?]</ref> This makes them prime targets for the [[pseudoscience]] and [[alternative medicine]] communities. These individuals primarily prey on the parents of autistic children and make a fortune peddling false cures and therapies, including [[chelation therapy]] and [[lupron therapy]]. As with most alternative therapy, the results and effectiveness are not scientifically verified. Some therapies such as [[chelation]] and specialized diets can in fact be harmful.

===Why?===
{{cquote|I don’t like the idea of comparing autism to a [[cancer]] that requires a sort of educational chemotherapy. These charlatans and sharks circling round a vulnerable group of people throwing random science at it and then peddling it like snake oil over the fence.|||Chris Pakham, autistic presenter and naturalist<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/10/09/chris-packham-living-aspergers-spent-30-years-telly-trying-best/ Chris Packham on living with Asperger's: 'I’ve spent 30 years on the telly trying my best to act normal']</ref>}}

People who are told by the "establishment" that there is no hope are prime for manipulation. Parents of autistic children are in just such a category. The internet is full of worst-case scenarios and outright lies that lead people to believe that autism is way scarier than it actually is.<ref>[https://misslunarose.home.blog/2019/06/27/autism-false-prophecies-doom/ Autistic Dreams: Autism and False Prophecies of Doom]</ref> Some parents end up desperate, helpless and clueless about how to help their children. They may then fall victim to the people who use them as a vehicle to push an anti-vaccination agenda.<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-autism-anti-vaccination-vaxxer-myth-injection-health-campaigners-a7580941.html</ref>

Autism itself carries several things with it that make it more susceptible to cranks and quacks. Autism usually doesn't manifest itself in detectable symptoms until after the first year of life. This means many parents believe their child was totally "normal" and then, at around one year of age, suddenly changed. While this sometimes (but rarely) happens, the perception is real. The subtlety of this is lost on most people who search for the cause of the "change," and instead of looking at the beginning of development, they look for things that occurred right around the time of diagnosis. There are plenty of things that happen around the first year of life, and this leads many people to make the jump from [[Correlation does not equal causation|correlation to causation]]. 

Myths of an autism epidemic make it easier for quacks to claim that their issue is the cause.

All of this combines to lead people to believe there is an increasing "epidemic" of autism and that it's being caused by an external environmental [[toxin]] that the children are exposed to around their first year. None of this is true; our understanding of what autism is and how it emerges is increasing exponentially. Autism tends to run in families and is most likely strongly or completely based in genetics.

=== Applied behavior analysis ===
[[Applied behavior analysis]] (ABA) is a controversial, abusive, and pseudoscientific therapy involving rewards and punishments to influence a person's behavior. It is the most common therapy recommended for autistic children, in large part due to influential lobbyists and dedicated advertising campaigns.

Proponents of ABA argue that it has a solid evidence base.<ref>Myers, S.M.; Johnson, C.P.; Council on Children with Disabilities (2007). [http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/1162.full Management of children with autism spectrum disorders.] ''Pediatrics.''</ref> Use of ABA-based therapies early in life has been somewhat linked to improved language skills, social behaviour and academic performance in some autistic children,<ref>Cohen H, Amerine-Dickens M, Smith T. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16685181 Early intensive behavioral treatment: replication of the UCLA model in a community setting]. J Dev Behav Pediatr.2006;27(2 suppl) :S145– S155</ref><ref>Eikeseth S, Smith T, Jahr E, Eldevik S. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11799654 Intensive behavioral treatment at school for 4- to 7-year-old children with autism: a 1-year comparison controlled study.] Behav Modif.2002;26 :49– 68</ref><ref>Lovaas OI. [http://www.beca-aba.com/articles-and-forms/lovaas-1987.pdf Behavioral treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children.] J Consult Clin Psychol.1987;55 :3– 9</ref> and there have been several alleged success stories of children who were greatly helped by ABA therapists.

On the other hand, critics of ABA, particularly in the [[Autism rights movement]], have stated that ABA therapy is physically and emotionally damaging, especially if done in a improper manner. More extreme forms of ABA, such as using electric shocks and physical restraints as punishments and withholding food and water, are egregiously abusive, while other forms of ABA are less extreme, but still involve coercive and abusive tactics such as demanding total compliance under the threat of violence and wrongly teaching autistic children to bottle up stress and emotions instead of freely expressing their concerns.<ref>[https://theaspergian.com/2019/03/28/invisible-abuse-aba-and-the-things-only-autistic-people-can-see/ Invisible Abuse: ABA and the things only autistic people can see]</ref> One study has revealed that exposure to ABA significantly increases a child's risk of developing PTSD, depression, and suicidal behaviour,<ref>[https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/AIA-08-2017-0016 Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis]</ref> a concern that many autistic people and their parents have been voicing as individuals,<ref>[http://unstrangemind.com/aba/ "ABA" by Maxfield Sparrow]</ref><ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2011/11/on-quiet-hands.html Thinking Person's Guide to Autism: Quiet Hands]</ref> while other researchers have called the entire evidence rationale of ABA into question.<ref>[https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009260.pub3/full Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)]</ref> As a result, many people have started advocating a shift away from forced compliance-based therapy, and towards support with issues like emotion regulation and social anxiety.<ref>[http://www.thinkingautismguide.com/2013/02/the-cost-of-compliance-is-unreasonable.html Thinking Person's Guide to Autism: The Cost of Compliance Is Unreasonable]</ref><ref>[https://www.uri.edu/tedx/talks/amy-laurent-rethinking-support-for-autistic-individuals/ Compliance is not the goal: Letting go of control and rethinking support for autistic individuals (TED talk by Amy Laurent)]</ref>

===False therapies and cures===
*[[Applied behavior analysis]]
*[[Facilitated communication]]
*[[Chelation therapy]]
*[[Lupron therapy]]
*[[Miracle Mineral Supplement]]
*[[Vibroacoustic therapy]]
*[[Holding therapy]], a bizarre and 
potentially
 inhumane "therapy". A child's caregiver holds the child down with the intention of causing a fit of rage.(!!!)<ref>http://bigthink.com/neurobonkers/blowing-the-whistle-on-institutionalised-child-abuse-in-the-uk</ref>
*[[Omega-3]] fatty acids

===Major players===
*[[Geier family | Mark and David Geier]]
*[[Rashid Buttar]]
*[[Robert Kennedy, Jr.]]
*[[Andrew Wakefield]]
*[[Autism Speaks]]
*[[CDC whistleblower controversy]] - William W. Thompson (the "whistleblower" who probably just gave way to pressure) and Brian Hooker (the incompetent epidemiologist)

== Actual treatments ==
Autistic people may benefit from therapies to help them live healthier and happier lives. The National Autistic Society recommends the SPELL and TEACCH approaches to help autistic people.<ref>[http://www.autism.org.uk/about/strategies.aspx Strategies and Approaches]</ref> Counselling may also help with co-occurring mental health problems like anxiety or depression. Because every autistic person has different needs, different people benefit from different therapies. Some autistics may also benefit from [[CBT]] treatment.<ref>Lisa Westona, Joanne Hodgekins, Peter E.Langdon [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027273581630071X Effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy with people who have autistic spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis] Elsevier.2016;11 :41– 54</ref><ref>Debbie Spain & Francesca Happé [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10942-019-00335-1 How to Optimise Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): A Delphi Study] Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.2019;12 :184– 208</ref>

Some autistic people have difficulty speaking, and may be taught to use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to help with communication. This can include Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), sign language, and use of tablets or computers for typing.

Some autistic people may benefit from medication. Pharmacotherapy with antipsychotics is well-documented to be effective, but only in particularly severe and self-destructive forms of autism.<ref>[https://jci.org/articles/view/32483 Antipsychotics in the treatment of autism.]  David J. Posey, Kimberly A. Stigler, Craig A. Erickson, and Christopher J. McDougle, 2008</ref> Antipsychotic medication such as Risperidone (Risperdal) and Aripiprazole (Abilify) are approved by the FDA for severe autism with uncontrollable aggression. Patients treated with either show reduced irritability, aggression and other antisocial behaviours, although many people have voiced concerns over the dangerous side effects of antipsychotic medication, along with incidents of unnecessary prescription of Risperidone to autistic children (and adults) in an attempt to "cure" autism or make autistic behavior more palatable to bystanders. In any case, people will generally respect it if you choose to not take antipsychotics. Many autistic people benefit from over-the-counter melatonin as a sleep aid,<ref>[https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism/therapies-guide/melatonin Raising Children: Melatonin]</ref> and medication for anxiety or depression if they have it.

==Savant skills==
{{wpl|Savant syndrome}} ([[euphemism treadmill|formerly known as]] "idiot savant syndrome") describes a person who has exceptional ability in one specialised field, with reduced ability in others. Only about half of all savants are actually autistic; the savant who inspired {{wpl|Rain Man (film)|Rain Man}}, unlike the character, had an entirely unrelated disorder called {{wpl|FG syndrome}}.

Common savant skills include mental arithmetic, [[music]], chess, [[memory]] (often photographic or ''eidetic'') of life events or trivia, and art. One autistic artist describes her skill as instinctive.<ref>[https://the-art-of-autism.com/looking-for-a-diagnosis-my-art-and-savant-syndrome/ Looking For A Diagnosis: My Art And Savant Syndrome] - The Art of Autism</ref>

Despite the fact that many savants appear in the [[media]], some researchers estimate that only around 1 in 10 autistic people have savant skills.<ref>[https://www.autism.com/understanding_savants Research: Autistic Savants]</ref> although this is highly contested in the scientific community, with other sources citing that only '''1''' in '''200''' autistic cases having savants skills or even less.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677584/] - The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future]</ref>

==Autism and gender variance==
{{See also|Transgender#Other traits|Transgender § Other traits}}
There has been correlation (though not causation) established between an autism diagnosis and gender variance. [[Transgender]] and [[Non-binary gender|nonbinary]] people (taken together) are three to six times as likely to be autistic compared to cisgender people.<ref>[https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/largest-study-to-date-confirms-overlap-between-autism-and-gender-diversity/ Largest study to date confirms overlap between autism and gender diversity]</ref>

Some have speculated that those assigned female at birth (i.e. transgender men) and who are autistic will identify as such due to autism being a manifestation of the “extreme male brain.” The “extreme male brain” theory has been disregarded in recent years and would not account for autistic transgender women<ref>https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/study-strengthens-autisms-curious-link-gender-variance</ref> nor for truly neurotypical men assigned either gender at birth.

Autistic people tend to be nonconformist, and are less susceptible to peer pressure, meaning they are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol as often as their neurotypical counterparts.<ref>[https://www.iflscience.com/brain/children-with-autism-may-not-cave-to-peer-pressure-like-kids-without-disorder-study-finds/ Children With Autism May Not Cave To Peer Pressure Like Non-Autistic Kids, Study Finds (the study involves an obvious optical illusion though)]</ref> This might encourage them to openly embrace their identity instead of staying in the closet.<ref>[https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/03/why-are-a-disproportionate-number-of-autistic-youth-transgender.html A Disproportionate Number of Autistic Youth Are Transgender. Why?]</ref><ref>Finn V. Gratton (12 October 2019). [https://books.google.com/books?id=4_qXDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA110 "Working with Families"]. ''[https://books.google.com/books/about/Supporting_Transgender_Autistic_Youth_an.html?id=4_qXDwAAQBAJ Supporting Transgender Autistic Youth and Adults: A Guide for Professionals and Families]''. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-78450-830-2.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Autism rights movement]] - People who see autism not as an illness, but as a difference to be valued and supported
* [[Autism Speaks]] - A huge charity notorious for using scare tactics to earn money
* [[Autism omnibus trial]] - A trial that settled thousands of lawsuits over vaccines supposedly causing autism
* [[Rapid prompting method]]
* [[Indigo child]]

==External links==
*[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/are-autism-and-vaccines-linked Opposing Views: Are Autism and Vaccines Linked?]
*[http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1671-is-there-an-autism-epidemic.html Is There an Autism Epidemic?] - Dr Steven Novella discusses the [[confounding variable]]s when trying to claim that autism rates are on the rise.
*[http://www.researchautism.net/autism-interventions/our-evaluations-interventions Research Autism: Evaluations of different autism therapies and treatments]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Autism| ]]
[[Category:Medicine]]
[[Category:Psychology]]
[[Category:Science]]

Categories: Autism, Medicine, Psychology, Science