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 I thought this was an outdated theory.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?

I'm glad people are mainly agreeing with me, as I feel this has not been a particular good experience for me.

But 'discredited' doesn't necessarily mean 'wrong' (for the record, my son's health professionals and myself think Bettelheim stinks). I just don't see the point in retrospective 'what ifs'. Perhaps one day, someone will come up with an indisputable theory as to what causes autism, or perhaps (I hope) society will recognise that some people think differently, and experience life differently, and that's ok. I don't want to sound flippant, because as the mother of a son with autism, I know how tough it can be, but I feel moving forward and learning more is key, not making parents feel crappy because of something they did or didn't do, and which can't be proved anyway.

Just agreeing with all the above! I brought my 4 dc up breastfeed, sling wearing and co-sleeping, only one of my 4 dc has autism.

LosPollosHermanos17

I didn't say they were to blame.

What I said is that discounting theories which may blame parents helps no one.

If some kind of parenting were to blame then it would be better to know. Maybe not for the parents, but it would be good for society as a whole to know.

I think spikey sums it up with "A professional shouldn't be presenting any sort of potentially offensive theories". Discounting anything potentially offensive is the kind of nonsense that led to Rochdale child grooming. It's necessary to explore different ideas and not be afraid of offending people. Hurting feelings is insignificant.

DixieNormas

You don't think 1 in 10 is a high number?

Out of every ten, one has ASD. That seems like a huge number to me.

I understand this 'theory' emerged from research in a university in the USA. In order to recruit autistic children for the study they used their contacts, i.e. Professional parents mostly working in universities. A higher than normal-at-the-time proportion of the mother's worked (as professionals at university). As working mothers they must obviously have been neglectful of their role as a housewife and mother and so the logic goes must be the cause of the autism...

Care to spot any problems with this?

Ah. You need to get a new therapist.
Do they do gay conversion therapy too?

This theory is on the same level as the vaccine theory- both are utter crap.

What kind of parenting could do that though? My child also has a learning disability and I personally don't think I caused it. I do really believe we are going backwards when people have these ideas.

very interesting, and sad, MsGameAndWatch

I have a child with ASD. He was neglected as an infant and has some attachment issues. He doesn't have an attachment disorder as such.
Frankly, I would take ASD over RAD any day of the week.

If anyone's interested in a more positive 'theory' on autism, the book 'NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity' by Steve Silberman is brilliant. It focuses on potential, rather than cause.

volunteer IMO, not a professional and I'm certain I have ASD, I think autism is underdiagnosed. I know loads and loads of people who could probably be diagnosed with ASD.

My DS1 was recently diagnosed with ASD. His paediatrician has referred him for genetic testing - she said that the current research shows that there's certain genes associated with ASD, but they're as yet uncertain as to how much of a role the genes play.

Total bollocks. I've never heard of this and my training in autism is quite comprehensive.

It comes from the time when childhood schizophrenia, Attachment disorder, autism and fragile X were all thought to be one thing, due to all of them sharing a few symptoms.

Even if you did believe that the parents had 'caused' the autism, what on earth would be the point of saying it. Surely a professional would stick to advising on what to do to help the situation.

rogueantimatter

Bet you know loads. More than the 1 in 10 mentioned above?

Children with attachment disorders can appear to have austism but it isn't any form of autism you need a new therapist

Los Pollos Hnos your therapist is very much out of date and in my opinion should not be spouting this absurd theory any longer

IF a certain set of parenting behaviours produced a certain set of autistic behaviours in children, then by now it would be very clear indeed that the parents' behaviour could be a cause, because there would be masses of evidence to back up that theory. There isn't any.

However, Autism is a spectrum condition, it is not defined on a measurable linear scale (despite attempts to publicise that rubbish as well) see here for a better description.
the-art-of-autism.com/understanding-the-spectrum-a-comic-strip-explanation/

Once you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. The next person you meet with autism may well have a completely different set of behaviours and triggers.

Brexit think you mean Attachment Disorder, see the post on page 1 by Allington for the differences between autism and attachment disorder as explained on the Coventry Grid.

Neglect of infants does NOT cause autism. currently, no-one KNOWS what causes autism, there are only theories. Many of the older theories like the refrigerator mother type have been well and truly discredited.

Well, apparently everyone is on the spectrum to some degree.

I'd put money on the children in the Romanian orphanage having a mixture of the above as well.

blank Great post!

I've heard a similar thing be suggested about my DS. He's being assessed for ASD and I have ptsd and detachment and disassociative issues with that. It's been suggested many times that my DS wouldn't be be the way he is if i wasn't emotionally detached. I thought that was a fairly common assumption until I've just sat and read this thread