People ask me what caused my child autism. When i tell i dont know. And they say "how come you dont know"?

Question

maybe they care but make me feel guilty

Answer 1

tell them because NO ONE knows what causes autism.  if they did, they could work on a way to prevent it.  these people are just ignorant for asking such a personal question anyway, you don't need to answer them.

Answer 2

If you want to be condescending and sarcastic about it tell them idiopathic etiology which is unknown cause.  Autism is an autoimmune disorder where the body begins attacking itself.  There are many theories of different causes of autism like: genetic predisposition, other autoimmune disorders in the family like alcoholism, allergies, eczema, irritable bowel, brain injury like hypoxia at birth, viruses, environmental toxins (pollutants)

I have not seen static encephalopathy written on any charts for autism.  Literally it means permanent brain damage.  I find this offensive, and don't feel it is the most politically correct terminology.

Answer 3

I work for a mental health agency. I read a lot of doctor's reports where they diagnose kids with autism.

Most of the time, the doctor's don't know what caused it either.

The only time they seem to know is if there is a history of chromosomal anomaly or some kind of damage to the nervous system. Premature birth or other birth problems could be contributing factors. Sometimes there is family history of mental illness or neurological disorders, sometimes not.

Most of the doctors write something like "static encephalopathy with impairment in communication and socialization that meets criteria for autism spectrum disorder." "Static encephalopathy" is just a way of saying "I think there is something different about the way the child's brain works but I don't know what it is."

Usually, they order chromosome testing and it's almost always normal.

I'm not sure why your friends would say that, but they are probably not very well informed about autism.

Answer 4

Tell them that scientists don't even know - that there are practically as many theories as there are children with autism in the United States. Inform these people that you did everything right during your pregnancy and that autism can strike their families without warning, as well.

You have no reason to feel guilty.

Answer 5

Could understand you feeling frustration, but see little reason to feel guilty.  Just tell them no one wants to help other children from getting it more than I do. Someday researchers will have made enough off looking to tell all of us the causes. Hope your child get in good program, and you can thank two moderate presidents for not stepping on IEP's.

Answer 6

You might want to tell them that you have a sneaking suspicion, that the shots that the doctors and the government forced you to give your child caused them....please read all of the websites that I posted in my answer to another mom with an autistic child, and you might be very surprised...and you might also want to join the class action law suits...good luck sweetie..you didn't do anything wrong, the government and the greedy pharmaceutical companies did.

And please, do not be like some people, closed minded...you might find some very good answers here, to help your little one.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 7

Next time tell them the doctors really dont know the cause of autism. That way they realize that no one really knows - its not just you that doesn't know.

Don't accept guilt for anything you did not do. You didnt cause it -- you have no need for guilt and don't let someone else cause you to feel that way anymore.

Answer 8

If you knew the answer to this question, there would hundreds of researchers out of jobs and you could make millions off the book deal when publishing your revelation!  You don't need to feel guilty when someone asks you this question because it's a stupid question, even though most who ask it are genuinely uninformed and not trying to be stupid.  Sadly, It's often hurtful as parents of autistic children to hear this question (since most of us can't shake that feeling that we need to have all the answers or "what if it IS my fault"...was it all the ice-cream I ate when I was pregnant?) but I don't believe most people are asking this to be rude either.  We just have to smile and politely say "I don't know what causes autism because NO one knows what causes autism... but I know of some great research projects if you care to make a donation (hee-hee)".  

"Guilt" is your biggest enemy here, not the dumb question and not autism itself.   Our children are special and uniquely wonderful regardless of their challenges and regardless of the "cause".