What causes autism?

Author:  Andre Velho | April 4th, 2022

Why did this happen to my child?

Is the most common question we get asked at Sethu by parents whose child may have recently received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

As of today, there is no clear-cut cause for autism. The current research suggests that a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences come together that increase the risk that a child may develop ASD. However, increased risk is not the same as cause.

This means that some genetic factors seen in autism can also be seen in people who do not have autism. In the same way, environmental influences such as advanced parent age, extreme prematurity, low birth weight can also be a factor that may be have been present in children who were later diagnosed with autism, likewise, they could also have been present in children were not.

Genetics do play a role in autism, in that it increases the risk of siblings developing ASD as well. When one child is diagnosed with ASD, the next child to come along has about a 20% greater risk of developing autism. When the first two children in a family have both been diagnosed with ASD, the third child has about a 32% greater risk of developing ASD.

Concerned about your child? Reach out to Sethu! Contact us on 7720013749 from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.