There is no link, the environment does not cause modern day Autism.
The DSM4 has a lot to answer for the creep of autism overdiagnosis.
The reason why there are so many, far too many, people, diagnosed with autism, is because over the last 10-20 years, the spectrum has been expanded so much that an introvert could get a diagnosis of autism.
Look at me! The classic introvert, meets the requirements of autistic diagnosis.
My myers Briggs = INFJ. yes, that 1-2% of the population
well well. And I am a retired psychotherapist too.
How on earth did I manage 25 years practicing as a psychotherapist, when my life was overwhelemed by autistic traits. At the time, I thought I was just a simple introvert.
So I could in fact get a diagnosis tomorrow and claim I am autistic.
How wonderful is that?
I could become a member of the ever increasing population of autistic people.
I remember back in the 80-90's every autistic person I ever met, and there weren't that many, were non verbal.
Now we have likes of Lone skum masquerading as an autistic person who in my professional opinion is simple a narcissist.
Narcissism and autism on the same diagnoses, what ever next.
I count ADHD as part of this ever growing trend of overdiagnosis.
I'm diagnosed as level 1 and I assure you it's something different than introversion. Not that it's necessarily a stronger thing. I didn't even get diagnosed until recently because my life has always been so functional that there was no reason for me to think I needed to be tested. The way I hear serious introverts talk sometimes, I'm glad that I have my traits and not theirs.
I have never been able to understand what it is about autism as a topic that drives people mad.
bediger4000•3h ago
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.
klipt•3h ago
Jtsummers•3h ago