I heard that they are connecting it with fathers who are older when their children are conceived. I guess male sperm can be defective as the male ages. I thought that was interesting because the woman is responsible for Down's and the chance for Down's increases as the woman ages. I think, with our society, having kids later in life, they should study the relationship between autism more closely.

I, also, think that Drs are diagnosing it more. There are many different levels of autism as I understand it.

-Zan

I am autistic. My father is autistic. My late mother was autistic. Many of my friends are autistic (both verbal and non, "high-functioning" and "low functioning"). Just because autism is a different way of being doesn't mean it's a disordered or invalid way of being.

God doesn't make mistakes.

I have to disagree with the commenter who mentioned that the rates are increasing because of better diagnosis. Believe me, there's no way to mistake a child with autism for something else, with the exception of Asperger's Syndrome, which can be mistaken for ADD, ADHD, OCD.

The rates are increasing because more of the population has it. Too many toxic chemicals in our air, food, water, homes, vaccines, etc. There's only so much a small body can take. And it's not solely genetics either, or older men.

I was 27, my husband 28, when our then 2 1/2 year old daughter was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a moderate version of autism. There are no autistic children in our families.

The best description I've seen is that genetics load the gun, but the environment pulls the trigger. If it were not so, then why do gluten/milk free diets work. Why does chelation, a process that involves stripping heavy metals from the body, work?

By the way, April is Autism Awareness Month. Pray for and support those of us whose lives have been impacted this way. We have a long road to travel.

The stats are quite frightening, that is for sure. My 19 year old sister is Autistic; moderately so. She is technically ' high functioning' in that she can attend school, hold a part time job, etc. But there are many things she will never do- i.e. drive a car, get married, etc. The challenges posed by Autism are quite staggering, in that it is such a spectrum disorder. In terms of what causes it, I believe it's a combination. Genetics are most likely the main culprit, but environmental factors definitely play into health.

With all respect to the previous comment, Autism IS being diagnosed more accurately these days. For example, my sister wasn't officially diagnosed until age 12. That is a LONG time. And during those first twelve years, she was involved in multiple special programs, OT/PT, seeing speech specialists and a host of other medical professionals. She was first labeled CP, then just general ADD/ADHD. Now most children are diagnosed within the first few years of life. Awareness has ( finally ) started catching on. The first child disability clinic she went through at age two ( I think), the 2nd when she was 12- and Autism was immediately diagnosed.

Anything that can bring awareness, and just as importantly- understanding- to this disorder is wonderful.

Hi all.

My son is five and has only just been diagnosed with PDD NOS possibly ODD as well, he also has severe anxiety and sensory problems. The amount of information and statistics around the world is staggering. My son was always highly active sometimes aggressive but people told me he would outgrow this. He didn't, looking back alot of my family has the same traits including myself so I guess I'm not as shocked as I would normally be.

But what shocked were the figures, especially in the defence area. So many defence children has this disorder. Why?

Kelly