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 I thought this was an outdated theory.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?

[PaulDacresFeministConscience]

Bullshit. One of my siblings has a large family - some autistic children and some NT children. Same amount of love, care and attention for all of them. Both parents have fought like tigers from day one of realising that something 'wasn't right' and anyone who thinks that poor attachment is to blame can fucking swivel.

Spouting utter bollocks like this only hurts the parents and families of those who are fighting to get the diagnosis and support that they need to give their kids the best shot in life.

[Spikeyball]

Cheesy if you think the theory is correct, please present the evidence?

[MaisieDotes]

Cheesy wants some attention today, I think.

[OnTheRise]

As others have said, this theory was debunked decades ago. Any therapist who is perpetuating this nonsense has no business being a therapist. I'm so sorry you were told this, it's completely wrong.

[HeyHoThereYouGo657]

My DS has attachment disorder and believe me he has suffered NO ABUSE OR NEGLECT

Ignorance ? You sound pretty ignorant yourself with your blanket judgement

[Herschellmum]

No no and no!

I have 4 kids, 2 with asd, eldest and one of my twins, firstly if it was attachment related than that doesn't make sense, unless it's assumed I chose to neglect half my kids while providing adequate love and attention to my other half?

Saying that my eldest had some issues, I wouldn't have said attachment, he hated breastfeeding and was never much of a cuddling baby, but the twin never had an issue like that at all. He loved breastfeeding, he loves cuddles etc very cuddly and loving.

[ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess]

No one knows, cheesy. Autism occurs in children from such a vast array of backgrounds and upbringings, that it's impossible to single out one particular reason. Theories vary from vaccinations, 'refrigerator moms', eating tuna during pregnancy to having a new carpet! My point is that we should focus on supporting both the parents and the children. Shaming and blaming is a useless enterprise; no-one will become a 'better parent' for being made to feel guilty.

[tava63]

I would as you to consider contacting the professional body that accredits this so called therapist.

[firawla]

I think this is a theory they give more time to in France but haven't heard people peddling it here! It makes no sense to me, I've 4 children and one is austistic while the others aren't.. my parenting hadn't changed to be cold just to that one child!! It's just a difference in the way the brain develops, I'm sure they'll find something more on that in the future, meanwhile I wouldn't give any time to this therapist as I can't see it benefitting you. There's no way I would go to a therapy which made out my sons asd was in any way related to parenting, or was a "fault" of any of us in the family. Awful!!

[VerbenaGirl]

That is a massive load of old nonsense!

[VolunteerAsTribute]

ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess

No one knows, cheesy.

Yes, I agree. I do find it baffling that any theory that could possibly attribute blame or influence on parenting isn't allowed. Parents must be blameless doesn't help anyone.

[Justanothersingledoutnumber]

I do find it baffling that any theory that could possibly attribute blame or influence on parenting isn't allowed.


It is allowed, however it's been discredited so it is in fact, nonsense.

[originalbiglymavis]

Well it's a theory.

It's been many years since I studied psychology and my favourite part was pulling apart bullshit theories.

I remember when the MMR came out and reading the whole autism link paper when it was published and it stank (I was just a student then do Christ alone knows why anyone would agree with his flawed and biased research).

This just looks like backwards thinking - assuming autism is caused by childhood trauma or neglect, rather than child with autism demonstrat​ing lack of interest in interaction from very early age.

Yet more blaming of the mother (its usually mum not dad gets the blame).

[LosPollosHermanos17]

How do you think parents are to blame though volunteerastribute? The poster that said this relates to bateson is right. That is what the therapist thinks.

[Spikeyball]

It's not that it is not allowed. There isn't any evidence of it.
There is evidence of a genetic component.

[Spikeyball]

People can make up any bollocks theory they want about anything. Without evidence, it remains a bollocks theory.

[OneInEight]

If you have a child who hates to be touched you tend not to hug them a lot. Doesn't mean that you caused their ASC by not hugging them. I suspect onlookers think that you don't show them enough affection though.

[ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess]

I didn't read volunteers post as blaming parents; but more as there are a myriad of theories as to what 'causes' autism and that we can neither confirm one contributing factor, nor rule anything out. No one is an expert on the condition, except those living with it, so a professional should never insist that their theories are right.

[Justanothersingledoutnumber]

we can neither confirm one contributing factor, nor rule anything out

Yes we can rule things out. This is what "discredited" means.

[barrygetamoveonplease]

Well. I don't know. My dd and me were/are pretty well attached and we're both HFA.

[BrexitSucks]

I thought there was lots of autism among the Romanian orphans -- related to the utter neglect (& squalor) they lived thru from age 6months+. So if evil person wanted to make a baby autistic, that strategy might work.

But almost all autistic people had perfectly decent parents. Their parents did nothing wrong. Something else caused the autism.

[Spikeyball]

A professional shouldn't be presenting any sort of potentially offensive theories without providing evidence.

[FlissMumsnet]

It seems we're all in agreement on this particular "theory"

We've enjoyed reading a thread where posters agree with one another!

[MsGameandWatch]

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

I studied autism as part of my degree and one of the areas we studied were different societal attitudes in various locations. In Korea for example the mother will take the blame and admit to poor parenting so as to remove the stigma of possible inheritable conditions. In this way her other children and extended family can still make good marriages and only one family member is "dishonoured" rather than all be affected.