r/InformedTankie • u/Mysterious-Ring-2352 • 3d ago

News Research finds vaccines are not behind the rise in autism. So what is?

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/autism-cause/
17 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 3d ago

Access our wiki here. JOIN TANKIE BUNKER

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

11

u/Illustrator_Moist 3d ago

We weren't testing for it as much. Also, mental health issues aren't as black and white as other diseases. I've heard arguments that ADHD is partly socially defined but idk how much credit that line of thought has.

8

u/3uphoric-Departure 3d ago

It’s really just a matter of diagnosis/recognition. In the past, people with autism or ADHD tendencies were just thought of as being a bit unique/strange/different/weird. Neither of these conditions necessarily prevent someone from participating in society.

11

u/GregGraffin23 2d ago

Better diagnostic methods.

Used to be a lot went undiagnosed

7

u/FourFeetOfPogo 2d ago

Recognition and acceptance as others have said.

A huge portion is due to the change in diagnostic criteria for autism to include high-functioning cases. Asperger's is no longer recognized in the DSM, and high-functioning cases are being recognized and reported more frequently. In fact, the DSM-5 lumped several disorders into what is now known as autism spectrum disorder. A large portion (~50%) of cases are high functioning.

The mental health field is expanding.

Increased awareness, funding, and fully funded programs offered to parents of children who are diagnosed with ASD (e.g. Michigan). This is an incentive for engagement with mental health professionals if parents feel their child needs professional assistance.

0

u/Mysterious-Ring-2352 2d ago

Thanks for saying so, though I hate the term "ASD."

3

u/Timthefilmguy 13h ago

In addition to diagnostic sophistication as others have said, on another thread someone pointed out that the increasing difficulty of living under capitalism as it collapses in the west is revealing more people who were “functioning” in past decades that have hit their threshold under increasing contemporary demands.

6

u/Mysterious-Ring-2352 3d ago

The answer to this question is pretty obvious.