Jan 9, 2025, Cape Talk: Study debunks link between vaccines & autism, but why the increase in diagnoses?
John Maytham interviews, Dr Kristin Bartlett, autism therapist.
Bartlett: You’re born autistic and you will always be autistic. . . .Â
More autism?
There are various reasons of course. Many people have a better understanding of it, and people are also a little bit more curious because of social media and information that’s also being placed on social media.
People are asking more questions. People are looking at more research, and therefore I’m getting many more inquiries about helping individuals either obtain a diagnosis or help them understand whether they might have it or what other neurological or neurodevelopmental condition they may have. . . .
I do believe that it’s not that there are more autistic individuals, but that there are more diagnoses happening.
Our understanding of autism is much better today than what it was 30 years ago. And because it is also so complex, so much more research has been done in autism to try and improve our understanding of autism.
The public awareness has also improved. Therefore it isn’t as misinterpreted or misdiagnosed.
There’s also been an increase in the diagnostic criteria. So there’s a broader diagnostic criteria than what there was originally when the first diagnosis occurred. . . .
There’s been a massive gender bias resulting in girls often presenting differently and also not then being diagnosed or under diagnosed. . . .
Cause?
Genetics do play a significant role in autism. . .Â
Environmental influences during pregnancy and early childhood are also being studied. This includes the age of parents, complications during pregnancy or birth or exposure to toxins like air pollution or pesticides, even gut health. These are all being studied now for their potential effects on brain development.
But while these factors don’t cause autism on their own, they may increase the likelihood of autism when combined with genetic predisposition.
