Autism is caused by poor attachment?

[LosPollosHermanos17]

I have recently been involved in therapy that says autism is caused by poor attachment with the parents causing all the symptoms. I thought this was an outdated theory. Just wondered what other people think of this?

wikipedia tells me this theory is still commonplace in parts of Europe and South Korea. I wonder if that is true?

it was called the refrigerator mother I think? 1950s style.?

^^ THIS

Its Nancy Thomas stuff and you need to avoid anything to do with it OP.

The therapist is in their 60s. I don't believe it either. I am not going anymore, but it is still bothering me. I am especially worried due to the current social political climate as I think opinions like this are parent blaming to save money.

The people that diagnosed my child also think it is a load of rubbish, which I suppose is reassuring.

Severe neglect or trauma in a child's early years can cause behaviour that resembles autism. For this reason it is sometimes difficult for parents of children who have been adopted, to have their concerns of autism, listened to.
Autism itself is not caused by poor attachment.

The 'refrigerator mother' theory. Debunked I'm pretty sure. A French friend once mentioned that it is still thought of as a valid theory by some doctors/psychiatrists/psychologists in France. It might be worth seeking a new/second therapist.

As above, a debunked theory from the era when it was theorised to be an infantile form of schizophrenia! Look on the BBC website where there is an article I read a couple of days ago about research that has found brain scans of babies show signs of autism before any changes in behaviour develop. They scanned babies from families which already had a child with autism because there is a genetic predisposition, and were able to see changes before 12 months in an area of the brain related to language etc -- they hope that in the future most children with autism can be identified very early and receive treatment asap as the earlier the treatment the better the outcome.

Ah, interesting. A friend of mine adopted a baby abroad. He was severely neglected and has autism. He will never be able to live alone and needs her constant care. She said this was a result of the neglect he suffered as a baby. So, I guess there is something there but definitely not all autistic children were neglected.

Yes, but the fact that he was neglected has caused him to have autistic-like traits, this doesn't mean that 'autism is caused by poor attachment'. Severe neglect can actually cause physical brain damage can't it, as the connections that need to be made for healthy brain development aren't made, so the brain does not develop properly. Again, this in no way means that 'autism is caused by poor attachment'.

We went to a support therapy for families with an autistic family member.

Bruno Bettelheim shite; his theories have been discredited. There is no single theory as to what 'causes' autism, and nor should there be. People on the spectrum think differently and so what? It's not a disability to be 'cured', it's a different way of being. Can't help but suspect this is a bit of a wind up. Acceptance and empathy above all else.

OP, how old is your DC? There was another BBC article re treatment -- parents are coached in there interaction with their child. Told to avoid questions, and how to talk to child. Said parenting needs to be above and beyond normal good parenting. Might be worth investigating to see if this approach would be appropriate in your situation. No suggestion you and other parents are anything but devoted loving parents or your behaviour is in anyway responsible for the condition.
Good luck

Absolute bollox and just another way of making parents, and especially mothers (as they remain the main carers for most children) feel like crap.

They used to claim something similar about anorexia as well.

My daughter is on the autistic spectrum, and is a very loving, kind and affectionate girl. She just can't 'read" people, takes things literally and can become obsessive about some things.

Utter shite. I BF DS until he was 3.6, co-slept, carried him around in a sling, and I don't think that's at all unusual among the parents of autistic children I know personally.

Bullshit. It's a nasty and offensive thing to say, particularly to a parent with an autistic child. Glad you no longer go.

Any kind of theory suggesting parenting is to blame is not allowed. It may offend people.

Nobody has thought that for about 50 years.

I think modern theories have more to do with difficulties with sensory processing and anxiety and theory of mind

I missed your earlier post, and I absolutely agree, OP, that this is about saving money. Five London boroughs have been n talks earlier this month to change the assessment criteria for an autism diagnosis so that only the 'most severe' cases will be looked at. I have recently been on a course called 'Time Out for ASD' - I was the only parent there with a child who had received an actual diagnosis. The course is basically generic parenting classes, and, as you said, suggesting that the blame lies with the parents. 'If you could just do X, y and z, your child will change'. Utter bollocks. All about cutting costs.

No Cheesy, it is nothing to do with not offending people. There is simply no credible evidence to back the theory up.

I am especially worried due to the current social political climate as I think opinions like this are parent blaming to save money.
FFS This is one very crap therapist whose personal opinion is bollocks, not a government policy. You need a new therapist, end of.

Any kind of theory suggesting parenting is to blame is not allowed. It may offend people.

OR maybe that's it's been totally discredited, many many many decades ago, and the 'attachemnt therapy' that goes along with it is abusive and in some cases harmful.

Many of the symptoms of attachment disorder are similar to autism.

The Coventry Grid is useful for distinguishing between them.

Coventry Grid

This was Bruno Bettelheim's idea and has been widely discredited.
This said, as a pp said, autism-like symptoms can originate from abuse, too; but in this case it only presents as ASD.

What do you believe is the cause then Jess and what evidence is there to back it up?