Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism is a disorder enshrouded in enigma. This perplexing thing we call autism has left many developmental experts scratching their heads time and again as to what the specific causes may be. Dead ends and an endless multitude of potential factors seem to be the most common results researchers stumble upon as it relates to the origins of autism. Although it is postulated that autism has a somewhat strong genetic basis involving but not limited to rare and complex gene mutations, it is still a mystery as to how the environment may contribute or cause these genetic variants to express themselves (Arndt, Stodgell, & Rodier, 2005). According to Arndt et al. (2005) and Johnson & Myers (2007), many controversial theories surrounding the cause and onset of Autism Spectrum Disorders, such as childhood vaccinations being a major contributor, have been totally refuted by scholars in recent times. Still newer schools of thought that point to a specific cause of autism but have not yet been validated rage on, such as a high content of heavy metals or lead poisoning in the human body. If nothing else, it has become clear that there is no singular cause of autism; there is no smoking gun.

Furthermore, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders has been on the rise in recent years, especially over the course of the past decade – reaching epidemic levels. According to a 2007 journal article by Newschaffer, Croen, Daniels, Giarelli, Grether, Levy, Mandell, Miller, Pinto-Martin, Reaven, Reynolds, Rice, Schendel, and Windham, the estimated prevalence rate for a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder was 6 per 1,000. If we fast forward to merely two years or so after the aforementioned Newschaffer et al. (2007) review was published, we fin...

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