Your view on cause and cures for autism

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I think most peoples' opinion on treating or curing autism is related to what they feel causes it. It seems people who feel it's genetic oppose curing it and people who feel there are environmental causes support a cure. Does anyone believe it's genetic and support a cure? Does anyone believe it's cause by the environment and oppose a cure?

Please answer my poll for yourself. Answer what you think caused you to be autistic and whether you want to cure yourself.

Last edited by zendell on 26 Jan 2008, 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Here we go again...this subject topic certainly has been beaten to death.

I hate that this poll has no middle option.

I know (not think) that autism is mostly genetic with the exception of some rare prenatal infections.

I also appose "curing" as it is playing God. But those who want one, well... I can't change their opinions.

Zsazsa wrote:

I sometimes tell family members and employees, "thank you, now I know what to get you for Christmas... a dead horse and a stick...."

i think it's due to paedomorphosis (neoteny) and am not opposed to people wanting cures, though i don't feel i need one for myself (assuming i have AS)

Those are my words, exactly.

Not that I'm ruling out environmental factors, as it would be silly to take a definitive stance on such a murky issue, but I firmly believe autism is primarily genetic, going by current scientific developments.

That being said, it almost seems rather silly attempting to develop a cure for a condition that we do not even understand. Perhaps we should recognize what we are trying to fix before trying to repair it. I also think it seems misleading to group the entire autism spectrum into one group. A person with Asperger's has very mild autism, and in many cases simply comes off as an eccentric NT, often times being more intelligent than their neurotypical brethren in their field of interest. Then, on the other side, we have severe autism in which the person is mentally retarded and completely unable to cope with reality. In the former situation, a touch of autism may actually be beneficial, though in the latter case, a "cure," or whatever you may call it would be a blessing.

I support a cure for severe autism, but I do not support a cure for HFA or AS. I know it's genetic, since a lot of people with AS also have relatives with AS (I have a paternal grandmother with AS).

One can learn adequate social skills even if you're an aspie. But it will take time.

I didn't realize this was discussed before. I must have missed the other topics. I know people posted on causes and cures but I didn't find any on whether a persons views on cures is related to what they feel causes it. It's a simple poll anyway. I'm not looking for a lengthy discussion.

I was in a gas explosion when I was 7 and I sometimes wonder if this TRIGGERED something off.

Although my dad showed traits of autism and my mum is dyslexic so I gues I was always GOING to be DIFFERENT or SPECIAL

Here's an idea I don't think anyone's covered yet:
What if autism is related to your natural body temperature?
My "normal" is about 97 degrees (farenheight), my NT sister's normal is about 99 degrees.

I've seen some posts about us being more normal when having a fever... maybe I'm on to something here?

Maybe somebody should do a poll.

i was sure glad to see you measure in Fahrenheit

I would choose all 4 op[tions; i believe that autism has both enviromental and genetic causes; and that it depends on a person if you need a cure or not (but i would in general support cure...)

The last time i checked my temperature it was 36.6 degrees celcius (sorry, but I hate the US units. Live with it, or better yet, convert to the metric system ). The thermometer was a bit f-ed up, though... so I think my temperature is 37 degrees.

I actually thought about that. My body temperature is usually below normal (averages around 97 degrees) and studies have shown abnormal blood circulation in autistics and I think that may affect body temperature. Some autistics improved with pentoxifylline which is a drug that increases circulation.



I think anyone can start polls. Why don't you start one?

I don't know celcius. Why doesn't everyone else convert to the US system?