The medical community frequently attributes the rising rates of autism to improved diagnostics and genetic predispositions. However, as a holistic-minded pediatrician deeply involved in child health, I observe a concerning trend indicating that we may be overlooking the broader underlying issues. While improvements in diagnostic criteria and awareness have undoubtedly contributed to identifying this increase in small part, the rise is far too significant to be attributed solely to these factors alone, suggesting the obvious—other causes are at play.
If we begin to classify autism as a “normal variant,” the numbers will continue to rise. However, determining the underlying causes would enable us to implement changes to reduce the risk to our children. When discussions devolve into division and conflict, focusing on whether acknowledging these risks belittles children and adults with autism, they overlook the severe hardships many individuals with autism and their caregivers endure.
The argument that the sharp increases in autism rates are primarily due to genetic factors is directly contradicted by the observable symptoms and behaviors associated with the condition. For instance, severe manifestations of autism, such as nonverbal communication, are unmistakable and would not have gone unnoticed or undiagnosed 50 years ago. Severe symptoms of autism, often referred to as “profound autism,” impact a child’s ability to function and communicate.
Beth Lambert, director .
