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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges.
The ways in which people with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is found in all cultures and across all socio-economic groups. In the past 40 years, the prevalence rate of Autism has skyrocketed. In 2018, the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 1 out of every 59 children have ASD.
Why the increase? No one knows for sure. Some epidemiologists point to an increasing awareness of the disorder as a key contributing factor. In addition, the diagnostic criteria for autism has changed with time, reflecting the latest research evidence, and the revised criteria are broader and therefore have contributed to the increased number of children being diagnosed with autism. Others view the impact of environmental factors (e.g., toxins) as a contributing cause. As more research is conducted, this question may soon be answered.
According to the CDC, boys are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls (2018). Some experts have theorized that this ratio is misleading, however, pointing to the fact that girls are more likely to develop compensatory social mechanisms to mask their symptoms and, therefore, end up being misdiagnosed or fail to be diagnosed at all.
Most discussion about the cause or causes of autism, especially in media reports, invariably touches on the subject of vaccines and autism. Indeed, a number of parents of children with autism believe that there is a link between autism and the MMR vaccine (injection of a mixture of three live attenuated viruses for immunization against measles, mumps, and rubella) and that the vaccine, in fact, caused the onset of autism.
Despite the strongly held beliefs of proponents of the vaccine theory, there is no scientific proof that the MMR or any vaccines cause autism. There is a correlation in time, however. The age for autism diagnosis is normally between years 1 and 3, whereas children are vaccinated around the age of 2. With no other explanation for the onset of autism, this correlation often leads parents to link the development of autism symptoms to the effects of the MMR vaccine.
As a result of those concerns and the advocacy of many parents and parent groups, there is ongoing research that is examining environmental factors as they may relate to autism. At present, however, there is no evidence that a link between autism and vaccines exists, and it is important to note that vaccines help protect and strengthen the body’s immune system and, therefore, prevent many otherwise serious diseases.