Comments on: Why I Don’t Worry About Causation

By: Genes, Activism, and Why We Still Have the Push Mower

Genes, Activism, and Why We Still Have the Push Mower — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 05:58:02 +0000

[...] and “environmental trigger” whenever I had to offer an opinion about the causes of autism. It seemed best, perhaps because less taxing on my thoughts, to leave the autism activism [...]

By: MARIA LUJAN

MARIA LUJAN — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:15:19 +0000

Kristina
I do think that you went to , IMO, the core of the question:
Focusing on CAUSE(s)/CURE(S); implying that everything is about this and to discuss everything published in scientific literature or in the media with this idea to support or to debunk is for me a real problem- supported by the media, and cultural and personal and organizational and so on- ideas.

And WHY is almost everything environmental ALWAYS discussed as CAUSING autism or NOT- beyond the known viral causes during pregnancy-CMV, rubella? What about the biochemical, metabolic , etc effects that environment can have in an autistic person, whatever the age, not as CAUSE but a consequence of genes expression?

The focus should be the autistic person that can have (and many have) true and real problems (medical, emotional, educational, physiological, pshycological and social) and needs.

At least my son has.

And I am waiting for the needed science and for another kind of discussion, honestly, where acceptance and biomedical are not exclusive or opposite, where education and accomodation are not absolutists and where advocacy for respect and dignity for autistic are not considered privative of some approach- because many of us advocate for our children´s rights dignity and respect every second of our days.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:49:19 +0000

I don’t think trying to find the cause of autism and focusing on the day to day demands of educating a child are exclusive. Some writing on autism seems to get a bit overly focused on the “cause” question.

By: Bernie318

Bernie318 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 19:26:52 +0000

When I think of the causes of autism I think of an older family member who has Down’s syndrome. His mother had rubella when she was pregnant, which caused it. This was in a time and place that this could not have been prevented. Now, sure, that wouldn’t happen (but wait, some people aren’t vaccinating their kids)… but anyway, everyone loves him. No one blames the mother. He is what he is, and interestingly, there is no doubt the cause of his condition. He is part of the family, and is loved. I know other friends with children with various chromosomal disorders, too, and there is none of the controversy as there is with autism. It just simply happened (according to the way they feel), the dice rolled and some of the genes came out differently.

By: Harold Doherty

Harold Doherty — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:38:20 +0000

Trying to understand what causes autism does not have to detract from enjoying or accepting your autistic child.

The two are not mutually exclusive. Nor are trying to cure your autistic child and acceptance. Nor are trying to educate your autistic child and acceptance.

By: MARIA LUJAN

MARIA LUJAN — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:47:02 +0000

Hi Kristina
My experience with my son was totally different.However, I share with you many of your feelings to your son related to my son; although I try to maintain the balance
1-It is important to know about collaborators because I have a daughter and I want her to be aware of what autism is and if there is viral/bacterian or other considerations to take into account in terms of pregnancy or development of future children of hers to avoid them health problems.
2-It is not important to make me unaware of the experience of the human being my son is. He is today such as he is.
3-It is important to detect concomitant medical problems that can hinder his optimum health and development
4It is not so important that hinder me or my husband to have a very happy, communicative and plenty of shared moments with our son.
As always, it is the daily struggle of research,further knowledge and analysis and consideration of the little and not so little things/moments in the search of equilibrium that I appreciate the most.

By: mcewen

mcewen — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:20:17 +0000

Likewise on both counts.
Cheers

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:17:19 +0000

Beautiful post, Kristine. I always feel a tinge of guilt if I spend more than 2 seconds worry about what caused Tobey’s autism. Like I am somehow searching for “what happened to him” instead of celebrating who he is. Like there is some *other* perfect child out there and I’m here looking for this perfect child. And, I really think that if I found this perfect child, I would really miss the one of I have now. I would deeply mourn the loss of my beautiful, caring, wonderful autistic child.

One thing that I’m reminded of you in your post is how much this forum has allowed me to see the autistic behaviors in myself. If autism is a spectrum, then we all are on it in some degree, I would argue. We’re all a little autistic. I can’t watch soap operas or Judge Judy because I don’t like emotionally intense moments like that–something I now try to remember when Tobey covers his ears while watching television. And, I can’t focus on a conversation if there’s a radio or television playing in the background. Something I try to remember when Tobey’s fixated on a mirror or his reflection in the grocery store floor. I think I see more of myself in Tobey and it makes me more compassionate and Tobey’s behaviors suddenly make more “sense.”

By: Judi

Judi — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 13:29:48 +0000

I read plenty about possible causes for autism but no one explanation fits with our experience with Charlie. Dealing with the day to day of life with Charlie has always occupied much more of my time and thoughts, rather than returning again and again to considerations of what, what event, what thing, what cause, made him become autistic?

This is exactly how I feel about our Andrew…I feel that spending time wondering about causes takes precious time away from Andrew and of course my other two boys. Excellent post…thank you, it sums up my thoughts quite nicely.