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 I thought this was an outdated theory.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?

As pp have said this view of autism was popular in the 50,60 and 70s it is no longer accepted as a valid theory for the causes of autism.

I also hate the theory that everyone is on the spectrum. I thought that was outdated too but keep seeing it pop up on facebook

Send your 'therapist' back to the 1950s

Oh yes we are all a bit spectrumy nonsense

I have seen i am a bit spectrumy on mumsnet loads of times makes the poster seem a bit special snowflakey

Attachment disorder can seem like asd to the untrained eye.

Only have a biology degree so not an expert..... lecturer was very clear that DNA was the key to understanding autism. The symptoms seem to become more obvious from between 9-13 months, as major developmental milestones are being reached.
Unattached parenting sounds like something Bernard Rimland would have spouted.

I don't know. I work with a fantastic woman who supports our local AutismTeam; and has an adult son with AS. She believes we're all on the spectrum to a degree. I'll be sure to mention the 'eye-rolls' and 'special snowflake' comments to her 😂

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

No, thats the current estimates. So, if parental detachment was the cause of Autism then far more Romanian orphans than 1 in 10 would have ASD. (actually I prefer the term AS....C = Condition, rather than Disorder.)

I'll be sure to mention the 'eye-rolls' and 'special snowflake' comments to her

She will probably say... Yeah it's not that funny as it's a theory in very early days which comes from a book called neuro tribes.

However she will probably, if she's read up on it agree that it waters down the dibilitating aspect of Autism.

Twenty years ago when at ds's (he was 2.5) MDA outcome meeting my HV at the time did her utmost to attribute ds's autism to my having had severe PND. The paed who was the most lovely and even tempered person according to the professionals who spoke to me later said he had been incensed and had asked her to leave.
It explains somewhat why the GP refused to make any necessary referrals and why the SALT who eventually saw him and referred him kept saying "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry".
When I later pressed a formal complaint against the surgery which resulted in further training and a written apology, ds's notes and my notes were littered with comments where any concerns I had raised were dismissed with reference to my PND. The referral to the SALT herself said ds was entirely within normal development and any difficulties were as a result of poor attachment due to PND.
This was for ds who at the MDA was noted to have development less than half of his chronological age and who when the paed first saw him said "so your GP thinks this is normal, I am really worried just how bad it has to get before they decide to refer on tbh"
So it might have been discredited in the fifties but attitudes still exist even among professionals today IME.

Autism is not caused by attachment disorders but it is true that many (not all) children with ASD don't attach properly due to a breakdown in the attunement cycle. This is often despite the best efforts of parents. Babies with ASD don't always alert parents to their needs the same way neurotypical children do and parents may not 'read' and respond to these signals. This can lead to a breakdown in attachment.

The fixed linear spectrum theory is still being promoted by Baron-Cohen, there's a recent or maybe even ongoing TV series which is probably why it's recurring on FB. He's been seen to say we are all somewhere on the spectrum or somesuch cobblers as part of the intro to the TV series, hence the 'spectrummy' comments of late.

Disclaimer : Not a fan of Baron-Cohen, haven't seen the above telly series, don't have FB.

She believes we're all on the spectrum to a degree. I had a conversation with a relative who was a senior psychologist specialising in child development and a lecturer and he said the same thing.

I will. I'm not suggesting for one minute that she's an expert, or knows any more about it that you or I. I do, however, think she might raise an eyebrow about adults bitching at one another over the subject of children with AS.

adults bitching at one another over the subject of children with AS

You don't think that the peopel on this thread has ASD and Children with ASD then?

I've just been diagnosed with Aspergers. The initial clinical psychologist I saw said it may be difficult to tell if it's ASD or attachment disorder because of a traumatic early childhood but was leaning towards ASD because of sensory issues. It's been interesting to read this thread and I do wonder about myself tbh. It's easy to get them confused I think but professionals certainly shouldn't be or saying that one causes the other. Although I did read that autism can be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Not sure if there is any truth in this at all tbh.

As I'm one of them, yes!

Oh and if everyone is on the spectrum, then why does a spectrum exist and why does anyone get diagnosed with ASD. I hate this crap. I know several people who I can quite safely say do not have any of the issues that people with ASD do.

That so called refrigerator Mother theory by Leo Kanner was discredited even by the 1980's when I was doing my Nurse training even Kanner himself later rejected the theory
It was being taught to us then as outdated and cruel and caused very much pain.

Saying we're all on the spectrum is IMO offensive, but often in general conversation NT people will also refer to themselves as being a bit or having a bit of different conditions, usually but not always MH conditions. (ASD/ASC is not a MH condition)

Oddly I've never heard people say they have a bit of a broken leg or a bit of