Autism

[ronaldmacdonald]

Anybody else have any views on what causes Autism...Or just any advise or sites for information??

I have just started researching Autism (the last couple of weeks) due to the fact that it appears my 7 year old son has it, (fortunately higher functioning one).

I have five children.

The 7 year old is in the process of being diagnosed..(Birth was Face presentation, born not breathing, 60 seconds to revive).

Another child, my eldest probably has it but was under the mental health unit for panic, black-outs and other various Ailments which I now believe were symptoms of Autism...(Long dry labour)

Another of my children displays more supple symptoms...(we always called him the bird because he flapped a lot :-O .... until the research didn't realise flapping was a sign..(born with cord round neck)

The only one of my children that I am pretty confident does not have it was the one that was a water birth....So bubbly and sociable (like she's from another world comparing her ..lol :-)

Lastly I have a baby whom I'm Currently watching like a hawk!! (He's just turned one and was a face presentation birth too) He's got just one word at the moment is trying to walk and can crawl, but.... has recently started to crawl backwards, rubs head against wall and flaps one hand quite vigorously :/ what can we do?....got his one year check in two weeks and gonna make sure am referred to autism specialist. Everything i've read suggests intense therapy from as young as possible is the best remedy....:-) Have to add am quite flabbergasted by how obvious it is that the birthing process is a big factor for a LOT of the autism!!! Why do the health services not warn us, so we can look out for symptoms should we have difficult births.......and why are mums not offered more water births!!

Try googling WATER BIRTHS AND AUTISM in the same sentence!!..you get NOTHING!!!

there is absolutely no research to suggest that traumatic birth is implicated in autism.

there are kids with birth trauma and no autism.

there are kids with autism and perfect births.

there are kids with traumatic births and autism.

there are kids with perfect births and no autism.

there is more research to suggest genetics is implicated in autism.

this has come up a lot on the sn board. you might want to search - some of the threads are quite interesting.

that said, it's only human nature to want to find a blame free 'cause' for a condition, but families where more than one member is on the spectrum generally suspect a genetic link, which is why younger siblings are more easily referred for early intervention.

My ds is on th asd and had a long labour and difficult birth. The midwives lost his heart beat and he was then delivered v rapidly via vantouse and I had an episiotomy.
I often wonder if this trauma had any impact, but at the same time also have wondered if the mmr vaccination also had any influence?
I guess the moral is that we all look for reasons because we feel guilty as mums but the main thing to remember is although our children may be square pegs in round holes, they are indeed special!

what madwoman said.

nobody knows for sure what causes it but genes seem to play a big role. it does not seem to be uncommon that more than one sibling has autism.

i have 2 DDs, both waterbirths but only has autism...

why dont you pop over to the SN board :)

only 1 has autism

Definitely come over to the sn board
It's fascinating stuff. You're not the only to be thinking as you are, but not much to go on a there is evidence of the genetic link the others mention. Also some evidence about viral causes and vaccination can come under this too. You may spend the next twenty years researching it and only come up with yet more questions.... (my first research in asd for postgrad was 1996, still exploring!! It's kinda addictive!) There are some fascinating convos to be had on SN board. And some very insightful people. Start with a search or two.

I think autism is a set of symptoms that can be triggered by many different things.

I have two DS's. DS1 was nearly a waterbirth but he was stuck. It was a very long difficult labour. He is now 7 and does have asd although he is 'sensitive' to some things-noise etc. DS2 was a very similar labour although shorter, he was also stuck and he has ASD. I dont think it was caused by the labour although in the past 2 years i could have driven myself mad looking for the reason. No one knows what causes ASD. It is very hard to come to terms.with and looking for an answer is natural but i dont think ASD is linked to birth. Come over to the SN childrens boards as there is lots of good advice on there.

Aww it can be hard post first diagnosis. If you're going to research can I suggest you research autistic adults views as well? They have a lot to say and I'm more inclined to listen to them. Also stay well away from 'autism speaks'

Thank you for all the feed back, will have a look on the SN board as suggested. And to Madwomanintheattic I to have heard that Autism presents itself differently in girls...My eldest whom was refered to the mental health unit is a girl and her symptoms (if they are symptoms of Autism) have presented themselves differentlyto my sons. Hopefully my Water birth baby girl will have escaped it...but not the end of the world if she hasn't because she is perfect the way she is :-)
Just such a terrible shame that the health services do not advice parents to be aware of the symptoms FULLSTOP. ,Whether a straight forward or difficult birth, parents need to be aware of this condition. I always though autism was a condition that was VERY obvious from birth. First I knew of it being a progressive illness was my 7 year olds symptoms.

Once again thanks for all the feedback :-)

I have three dc. Three really straightforward births. Only ds2 has asd and his is severe (regressive)

IMO autism is just not one thing. Different patterns, different causes.

Afraid my boys don't fit your theory :)
DS1 - induced, but fine after birth, has AS.
DS2 - easiest ever water birth, HFA
DS3 - water birth but then needed to be resuscitated - NT.

However I am fairly certain both DH and myself have AS so definitely genetic in our case.