I think the drastic increase is related to 2 things:
1. A better understanding of the condition and also the cultural need to diagnose everything and over-diagnose. When we were kids, the "weird" kids were just weird. They didn't have a diagnosis and now they do.
2. Yes, I do believe that SOMETHING has changed in the last 20, 30, 50 years to cause a slight increase. I do think autism rates have increased if we count all the undiagnosed people from years ago.....but only slightly.
So what changed? Is in environmental? Something we are eating? Genetics? What changed in the last 20-50 years?
If you are asking me, I think there is a fairly easy explanation. Studies show older parents have a higher risk of having autistic children. Now, ok, I didn't read the Studies, I'll admit that so maybe the data is inaccurate. But if you are looking to see what's changed, people have kids older now. Not sure what the science is to explain why being older makes you more susceptible but if those Studies are legitimate, this seems to be a very simple explanation.
1. A better understanding of the condition and also the cultural need to diagnose everything and over-diagnose. When we were kids, the "weird" kids were just weird. They didn't have a diagnosis and now they do.
2. Yes, I do believe that SOMETHING has changed in the last 20, 30, 50 years to cause a slight increase. I do think autism rates have increased if we count all the undiagnosed people from years ago.....but only slightly.
So what changed? Is in environmental? Something we are eating? Genetics? What changed in the last 20-50 years?
If you are asking me, I think there is a fairly easy explanation. Studies show older parents have a higher risk of having autistic children. Now, ok, I didn't read the Studies, I'll admit that so maybe the data is inaccurate. But if you are looking to see what's changed, people have kids older now. Not sure what the science is to explain why being older makes you more susceptible but if those Studies are legitimate, this seems to be a very simple explanation.
