Autism- Enviornmental factors or genetic?

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@KraftieKortie,

Ah I see, so in a way without trying to be offensive, does it mean they go backwards?
Sounds like autism was a diagnosis for children who experienced detachment parenting or any kid who developed mutism may be considered of that time autistic I'd guess.


Difference is people with autism may come across as selfish but they aren't whereas schizophrenics or even those with addictions have certain impulses which makes them selfish. Not always the case but mental illnesses can be linked with autism so i'd guess Eugen Blueuler reference makes sense, as theirs similarities with the two.
Will have to read up on Leo Kanner.

Ah I see.
It's a shame years ago and even today, a lot of kids that seemingly misbehaved are still labelled with behaviour problems when some have genuine disabilities.
Eggheads today in the uk, is a name used for a tv quiz show for those that are highly educated.

Thanks for the info.

Autism, before the 1980s, was really rather a rare diagnosis. There were definite "indications" that one was autistic.

Elective mutism because of "detached" parenting would not have been one of them.

In order for one to be diagnosed with autism at that time, one really had to be in one's "own world," and to be severely disordered in many facets. It was considered rare for an autistic person to have speech. One had to have had a severe disorder in such things as self-care.

Raymond Babbitt (Rain Man) would have been considered to have been quite "high-functioning," even though he was institutionalized as an adult. This was because he had fluent speech. Autism was seen as being a self-evident diagnosis by clinicians at that time, and the prognosis was invariably poor. Autistic people were not seen as being "selfish" because they weren't thought capable of being "selfish."

Maya Angelou, the poet, had elective mutism. So did James Earl Jones (because he had a severe stutter). Both were mighty tall and strong people. Both, it is evident, were not autistic (at least by the old definition).

Autism is quite a different animal these days.

@KraftieKortie,

That must've been hard for those with a milder form of autism at the time, to have no diagnosis and to struggle throughout live on their own, unfortunely that happens too in todays society but luckily now theirs more awareness these things.

Thank you for the interesting facts on Raymo Babbitt and Maya Angelou.

People who have mutism were considered to have autism at one point but now its associated with social anxiety from what I read but alot of people with autism have social anxiety and don't speak, Hench the reason some got diagnosed with mutism.




"Autism is quite a different animal these days". That is true!

Some parents of severe autistics think that promoting anti-cure ideology by some highly-functional aspies is harming their children.

http://www.wellsphere.com/autism-autism ... der/146553


To be honest, this father does make a good point.

both and neither

the 'option' to develop autism is genetic, with everyone having some chance. environmental factors can then finalize whether it develops, and how far.
this can be while you are in the womb; your mothers diet, smoking, drinking, medication, pollution, or in your first few years (from the same factors).

there is definately a genetic factor in developing autism/aspergers, but the genes aren't the whole story (as evidenced by identical twins not always having the same degree of ASD)

[MOVED from L&D to GAD]

Good point @faceofboo about the possibility of it being a genuine diagnosis back then.

I don't know if this holds true for autism but it seems to be that today, anyone who misbehaves has ADHD, yes some genuinely do whilst others I think it's more of a behaviour issue.

If anyone shows indifference by being an introvert or lack social skills, they may be considered "autistic" yet again some genuinely are others may just be an introvert and yet some people who are autistic may go un noticed for many years.

I think in some ways, we use labels a bit too much
unless it fits a true description of someone and they receive a professional diagnosis, it shouldn't be used sparingly.