Several Theories for the Increase of Autism Diagnosis

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Ok so we all know that autism diagnosis has gone up massively. Likely its not just 1 or 2 reasons. There's probably a huge multitude of reasons.

1) Higher paternal age. As fathers age, there mutation rate in there genome increases. With rising paternal ages, theres a higher risk of autism. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/healt ... .html?_r=0 This article states that rising paternal ages could account for 20-30% of the cases.

2) So a autism specialist that I know proposed this one. See women started entering the workforce into more science/technical fields providing more opportunities for like minded individuals to meet other like minded individuals. So with the right mix of genes = autistic kid? Pure speculation this 1.

3) Broader diagnostic categories. Obviously with PDD-NOS and aspergers, the span of diagnosis is so much greater then the past. So many of the mild cases are caught. This one is clearly attributes to the rise.

4) Enviorenmental Reasons. Ok this one, is high speculation and no one really knows what enviorenmental causes there are. But I learned in my genetics class for any genetic condition, disease, medical condition. Enviorenment always plays a role but we never quite know how? I'm not going to go into all the ridiculous theories I've read.

Lastly, the case of autism will just keep going up. I say that cause the internet in general has provided us greater chances to reproduce. Ok so some of us still have a hard time finding mates even with the ability to meet people online. I'm saying, we have a much greater chance of finding someone to reproduce and spread our genes with. I know for myself, if it wasn't for the internet, I'd be mostly doomed dating wise.

What about gut bacteria? I just did some reading on that today and it sounds plausible to me, though I don't believe that's the sole cause for every person. I think its likely autism is probably something that can be caused by numerous factors.

Sperm counts are dropping at a uniform 1.9% per year. Trees are getting plagues, frogs are dying....

humans aint the only ones to suffer species threatening changes to overall health, of nearly everyone 'living in the earth environment'

but they may be the cause of it due to overpopulation and/or unsustainable activities

So...what about bacteria?

I never heard that bacteria caused autism/aspergers in the first place.

Second- why would bacteria suddenly be causing more autims/aspergers than before?

Okay, then what is changing the gut bacteria?

I still say talking and learning about autism spreads autism.

You know I bring it up as a joke now and then when the more ridiculous theories pop up, but I'm actually realizing now there is some truth to it.

The more it's talked about, the more people learn about it. The more people learn about it, the more they see it everywhere (granted a lot of that is just projection, but it can also cause alerts to the real thing that might otherwise have never been noticed). So, yeah, I think maybe just learning about it and spreading the word is also causing more awareness, and likewise more catches of the real deal.

I struggle to understand why certain environment issues are subject to speculation (some, sure but others are entirely plausible) - premmie babies born at 23/24 who 20 years ago wouldn't have survived are now surviving and statistically more likely to have developmental disorders.

I have yet to see a study that links premature deliveries to the "rise" in Autism.

Even as recently as Temple Grandin's childhood, Autistic children were routinely institutionalized upon diagnosis. Those who were not diagnosed were pushed to do better, even if better was not possible, and ended up with self-esteem issues on top of everything else.

Even today, those that are diagnosed are still pressured to do the same and can end up with the same self-esteem issues.

And even those that are diagnosed.

It would be ever so much easier all round if "people" could accept that different isn't automatically a deficiency. I see no difference between expecting us to act like NT's and people expecting those who are not strait (gay, lesbian, etc) act like strait people

edit: except that the latter is increasingly recognized as wrong. and we haven't started marching down main street in "Autistic Pride" demonstrations yet.

That's because we haven't stopped fighting over what our logo ought to be, or if we should even have one. Or haven't you seen those threads yet?

I've seen some of them. I didn't post because I don't have any good ideas at the time. I kinda like light going through a prism showing the color spectrum for a logo. It gets the idea of wide diversity in there without using a rainbow.

I think the increase is because years ago, it may not have been as well recognised and people were diagnosed with things like depression. That was my original diagnosis.

The rates of most degenerative and chronic conditions have increased, and are still increasing.
Modern peoples health is continuing to decline, as can be seen in the annual 1.9% drop in male fertility/ sperm count and mobility

Even a dumb aspie can see a correlation between declining general health and more children with birth defects.
I find it offensive to deny the environment, and see denial of this, to be contributing to others autism..... via avoidance of legitimate discussion re causative factors.

My families genes were already deteriorating from the early 1900's, with my Grandmother as an apothecary working with added lead to medicines, and my grandfather an electrical engineer[exposed to crude toxins], the other grandfather exposed to chemicals every working day.

By denying legitimate causes of autism you allow the processes to continue that cause genetic harm to others.