Why asking what causes autism is the wrong question

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An interesting article.

Because there are many causes of autism.

Maybe PETA and Autism Speaks will end up duking it out.

I'm inclined to agree that it's of limited value to ask what causes autism. I'm not quite sure why.....I guess for one thing the genetic factor is probably quite strong. For another, I'd prefer instead to see more research into what causes society to give autistic people such a bad time - I know that in the right community an Aspie doesn't stand out as noticeably different or in need of special help. For a third, they say autism is caused by vaccinations, then it's mercury poisoning, then it's too much milk, then it's refrigerator mothers, all of which suggests to me that they aren't doing very well at finding "the answer."

I guess the less you are into seeing autism as something that needs to be fixed the less you'll be into "the cause of autism".

I disagree and think that we should be asking about what causes autism. I think it's important to be able to distinguish the causes so that we can know more about it. This would allow for improvements in helping people in relation to autism in many ways. For instance, it could allow improvements in predictive measures. If there are environmental factors that can increase the frequency or intensity of autism, that could be critical, too. Are there environmental factors that give rise to the symptoms in people who lack the genetic traits and would have otherwise turned out NT? Are there environmental factors that reduce the possibility of the autism being a crippling factor for what should have been more severe cases?

Do I believe it is the central question to focus on. No. I think we should be more focused on things like what Autism is, why it makes people different, and how to bridge the gap that exist between autistic people and the rest of society.

What I think is wrong is an ideology that is often attached to asking what the cause is. This is the belief that Autism needs to be cured/removed, as if it were some terrible blight on the population, rather than a diverse group that varies from the norm. It is a dangerous idea that is expressed all too often.

I grew up (50s, 60s) when HFA/Aspergers people, unaware of being on any spectrum, when nobody had ever heard of AS, were commonly referred to as eccentric, and it was often used in a warm-spirited way "maybe he is a bit of a character, but we like him". Eccentric wasn't a term of abuse. It could also be used negatively, though very very rarely.

The thing is, no-one ever asked:
"What causes eccentricity? How can we cure it? How can we make these eccentrics behave normally, like everyone else? Why don't they make an effort to be normal? Eccentricity is a disease, so doctors should be looking for a cure.
Should we try leeches to cure them? A diet of carrots and broccoli? Should I keep my eccentric at home, is it safe to be around someone like that?"

This inclusive attitude didn't extend to those of subnormal intelligence, which arose from various syndromes, like FXS and others. However the HFA Asperger Syn adults lived in a time of widespread tolerance. (In New Zealand) Other forms of difference, interestingly, were not treated indulgently. Certainly not homosexuality, nor left handedness.

B19: 100%. So often, implicit in the search for a cause is the wish for a cure. (Exceptions noted for explorations driven by a sense of wonder/curiosity, as in, "what are the optimum conditions to produce multiple rainbows?")

Disclaimer: even though I paid dearly for my Asperger's over the last 20 years (socially and, alas, professionally), I wouldn't give it up for all the kingdoms of the world and the glory thereof. In a very real sense, it (and cats) got me through the last 20 years!

PETA is an animal *wrongs* group. They have killed animals with their so-called "kindness". Like when they stole live fish from a restaurant and released them into rivers and lakes. The fish were of the saltwater variety, so they all died anyway. Another time they released minks from a farm into the wild, but the minks were not wild animals and they died anyway in a few days because they were used to getting food and shelter from humans.

That's why the whole milk causes autism thing is utter hogwash. They think they know everything about animals, but they don't. I hate the guilt they make me feel every time I eat something non-vegan and claim that I'm an omnivore.

I get what you're saying, but their could also be a positive or no effect to knowing the cause of something. I do find closure to my dwarfism cause. Knowing the causes of a condition could better help you, not necessarily mask or seek to erase a conditions, but take care of yourself and let others accommodate you. And while people have found the causes of hearing loss, there is still a lot of 'Deaf pride'.