Can concussions cause autism?

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Scientific papers linking autism and concussion on Pubmed: 0

Threads in which pgd links autism and concussion on WrongPlanet: 26

Hi i have been diagnosed by a psychiatrist with aspergers and i had a traumatic brain injury in the past by falling on the head... It seems like i was more asperger after is it possible? Was my brain structure changed by the event even if doctors told me it didn't ( neuropediatrician and neurologist)? I am living in france so the system may be different and science less advanced... I am anxious about this

Concussions, themselves, don't cause Autism or Asperger's.

In many cases, it's congenital. In some cases, a predisposition in early infancy could lead to actual symptoms later in infancy.

If one doesn't exhibit autistic symptoms until after age 3, one is definitely not autistic.

In fact there was a small epidural hematoma which did not need an operation because benign ( i was hospitalized) but it was probably a concussion because i did not loss consciousness and was confused and dizzy at the moment of the accident ( i felt on the floor because i was confused)! Two years earlier i also felt but it was not a concussion i only had stitches!
Doctors said it was ok but i wondered if this has caused my anxiety or Aspergers?

I would say that it might cause anxiety--but it would not cause Asperger's.

The definition of Autism would have to radically changed from the current development disorder, otherwise concussions can only cause Autistic traits or might make existing Autism present as more severe.

Hi, my name in fact is michael and i am 18, i am american but been living with my mum in france since 13 years... In 2010 i had a severe concussion with a small internal bleeding which of course didn't necessitate medecine or surgery because it was too small! Before i had this accident ( which i had from falling my height while running) my mom's fiancee which is an engineer knew i had aspergers because he said ( i am really sorry if i am arrogant i dont mean it really) i was really smart but didnt get the social cues with his two children and with others and had trouble making friends and communicating. I was always getting A's at primary and middle school before that accident and had no signs of intellectual deficiency. In fact i was curious of everything ranging from history to astronomy... What i am really afraid and terrified of is if this concussion damaged my brain and made me loose intelligence and even made me intellectually disabled... It would be really unfair for me that it happened to me! Could you help me please?

No, they can not. That would be a brain injury which can have any number of effects some of which may mirror some traits of Autism but it's still a brain injury.

This concussion happened because aspergers are not well considered in france... Really sometimes i wonder why i came to this country Well i was a child i couldnt take decisions.
What i mean by not well considered is that sometimes i have the urge to verbalize mental scenarios so while i do this i am running ( like for exemple if i wanted to imagine an important battle than happened in x year i felt the need to act it in real)... Unfortunatly one day i thougt someone wanted to bully me ( as it was frequent here) i ran and felt on the head Sometimes i really think i am dumb something

So this kind of brain injury dont give intellectual disability?

I agree with your statement that brain injury can cause some symptoms that resemble autism to a degree, but clearly cannot cause the host of symptoms and behaviors connected with autism. I've also read that long term substance abuse such as alcoholism has a similar effect.

I would like to refresh the post did my concussion made me loose intelligence or is it depression that slows me down...For exemple my dad says to me i have no control over the internet like if i didn't know how to use it and i would be unable to manage finances or my life... Also i have troubles translating french to english even if english is my native language with spanish (i am hispanic) I am also abnormaly slow to type on a keyboard ( i always were but i mean i was little)! I know it is not the subject of the thread but i am very nervous and depressed about this (i even have thoughts of killing myself because i have few friends nobody likes me because i became so dumb you can see it by the way i interact use the internet like a 5 year old child)! Which specialist should i see a psychotherapist , neuropsychologist or a doctor...
Please if you could give me an answer
Thnx

Concussions in late childhood/adolescence/adulthood do not cause autism, because autism is, by definition, a developmental disorder that likely was present from birth, whether or not expressed.

Autism could cause concussions, though, because autistics are sometimes poorly coordinated.

What an adult concussion could do is diminish brain function, and that might make pre-existing autism less easily masked or more conspicuous. So a shallow inquiry might conclude the concussion caused the autism, but that is a misconception. It just unmasked it.

People with substantial concussion history may need to relearn some things, just as stroke victims have to do. They may also need to use mental aids such as personal organizers. Neuropsych testing can determine which areas are a problem after the concussion, and suggest some therapies or strategies that might overcome the difficulties.

It's best to avoid concussions; whereas, we who have autism were born that way.

To ceo145: See a neuropsychologist, but you might need to get a referral for that from your doctor. Just say you have some thinking problems since your concussion and you want some targeted therapies, and a neuropsychologist can assess and prescribe what therapies would be most useful. If that's too big a mouthful for you to say to the doctor, write it down, then read it out loud or else pass the written statement to the doctor.

Good luck ceo, even if you truly have declined in intelligence, it can be largely overcome - just try very hard to avoid future bumps! Because concussions can be cumulative.

Interesting to ask. I hear brain damage can mimic the symptoms but is it really autism? If someone had a head injury or brain damage from birth or at a few months old and then showed signs of autism not too long later in life but no more than past three years of age, I think it can make it very difficult to diagnose. But a diagnoses can still be given but to me I don't really care if someone truly has it or not. It only matters what symptoms they have that are associated with autism and the help they need. I have seen several people like that online.

Brain damage caused by head injuries can mimic some of the traits of autism, but autism itself is genetic. So the answer is no.

I can assure you that my own drain not is bamaged.