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Causes of Asperger's are unclear, but the autism spectrum disorder is certainly not caused by "refrigerator mothers." Genetics appear to cause Asperger's.
The exact causes of Asperger’s syndrome are unknown, although Asperger’s research has identified several predisposing factors. Sometimes referred to as high functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome is one of the “milder” autism spectrum disorders. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) such as classic autism and childhood disintegrative disorder produce symptoms that are more severe than Asperger’s symptoms.
Asperger’s symptom severity varies widely from individual to individual, and like other autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s is a lifelong condition.
Myths of Asperger’s Syndrome: Refrigerator Mothers
Asperger’s syndrome, as an autism spectrum disorder, falls victim to many of the misconceptions that plague autism. In the 1940s the cause of autism was thought to be a cold, aloof “refrigerator mother.” This notion wasn’t just popular misconception: the refrigerator mother was accepted as an autism cause until the 1970s.
Unfortunately, the notion of the refrigerator mother entered popular culture, and the theory of the cold, distant parent is occasionally trotted out as one of the causes of Asperger’s syndrome .
Asperger’s Parenting
Asperger’s symptoms often lead people to dismiss Asperger’s kids as ill mannered, badly behaved, and rude. From this assumption it’s only a quick jump to that most popular of games: Blame the Parents.
Bad parenting does not cause Asperger’s syndrome. If bad parenting, how to explain families which include both Aspies and “neurotypical” siblings? If bad parenting causes Asperger’s syndrome, why would one child be affected but not the other?
Possible Causes of Asperger’s Syndrome
So much for what doesn’t cause Asperger’s. What does? Comparisons of brain activity of Asperger’s and typical kids suggest that Asperger’s syndrome results from abnormal changes in embryonic cells that alter brain structure and thought processes.
All well and good, but what causes the cellular changes in the first place? A genetic cause seems likely. Asperger’s kids often have family members who exhibit Asperger’s-like traits. These traits may not be clinically significant, but resemble Asperger’s behavior enough to suggest a genetic cause.
(As a side note, there’s a theory that parents exhibiting autism-like traits may have inspired the refrigerator mother hypothesis. Parents may have exhibited some of the aloofness and social distance that can occur in autism / Asperger’s).
Asperger’s syndrome has a gender preference: males are four times more likely than girls to develop Asperger’s. This may support the argument for a genetic cause of Asperger’s.
Asperger’s is a complex condition, with individual “Aspies” displaying a wide range of symptom severity. Most researchers believe that a cluster of genes causes Asperger’s, rather than a single Asperger’s gene. It is also possible that environmental factors interact with genetics to trigger Asperger’s.
The Asperger’s “Cure”
Some people hope that determining the cause of Asperger’s syndrome will produce a cure. At present no Asperger’s “cure” exists, and many would say that one is not needed. Asperger’s may well be simply another way of perceiving the world and part of the normal range of human behavior.
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute in any way for care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
Resources
Laider, J. (updated September 15, 2004). The “Refrigerator Mother” Hypothesis of Autism.
Neurology Channel. (n.d.). Asperger’s Syndrome.
The copyright of the article Causes of Asperger's Syndrome in Autism/Asperger's Syndrome is owned by Michael McGrath. Permission to republish Causes of Asperger's Syndrome in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Comments
Oct 6, 2008 5:21 AM
Guest :
Actually, you are wrong. Bad parenting, pollution, child abuse etc. are the
cause of aspergers syndrome. Full stop. I have never heard of top
"Jocks" who are truly happy and successful having children with
AS. Its always low-income, angry people, people with substance abuse issue
et. etc.
often lead people to dismiss Asperger’s kids as ill mannered,
badly behaved, and rude. From this assumption it’s only a quick jump to
that most popular of games: Blame the Parents.
"Bad
parenting does not cause Asperger’s syndrome. If bad parenting, how to
explain families which include both Aspies and “neurotypical” siblings? If
bad parenting causes Asperger’s syndrome, why would one child be affected
but not the other?"
Actually, this argument works in favour
of environment/nurture. If it is genetic, why is it that the
parent's/gransparents/siblings dont have it?
The idea that
"bad parenting" would effect each child the same if just stupid.
Further, child abusing parents usually single out a particular child and
allow all the family members to target that child.
As one of the
world-leaders in child abuse, forbidden truth, and psychohistory studies, I
have to inform you that your child has been harmed or abused at some time.
The DNA story will not wash with Me. Its so obviously false. The simple
fact that AS do not all get brain-scans and DNA tests to diagnose thier
condition is proof that it is really an acquired mental disorder.
Oct 17, 2008 7:18 PM
Guest :
Interesting that..
A) You consider yourself as a "world leader in
child abuse, forbidden truth, and psychohistory studies" yet I see no
name, qualifications etc, to determine who you are. You clearly do not have
have a child with AS. I have three wonderful children (one with AS) they
come from a good home, where they are very loved and cared for, and we have
a very high income etc. So that blows your theory out of the water.
B) It is a well established fact that people who specialize in the
fields you mention usually do so because of their own personal
experiences.
C) Your anger and comments tell me that it is you
have serious issues and I suggest you seek immediate assistance.
D) To all those loving parents out there seeking assistance for their
child with AS, keep up the good, somewhat challenging, yet rewarding hard
work. The mere fact that you are seeking assistance shows that you care
greatly for your child and like me would like to see him (or her) do well
in life.
Best Regards,
DC
Nov 17, 2008 11:03 AM
Guest :
Ha!! Thank you for making me giggle a bit. I too have a child with AS, and
we have a warm loving family and high income. I happen to teach Special
Education high school English- and your grammar, sentence structure and
punctuation rival that of a crazed manifesto written by someone who has
just blown up a post office. Please see a doctor as soon as possible,
something is amiss... with you. Please seek help.
Jan 8, 2009 7:46 AM
Guest :
My 8 year old son has a mild degree of Asperger's Syndrome. He has
displayed very peculiar behavior ever since he began experiencing more
social activities (i.e. playing with other children regularly). Because I
had a very flexible job during his early years, his mother and I spent a
great deal of time with him. I don't recall anything that would qualify as
abuse, neglect, or any other form of dysfunction. In fact, we have always
had a very loving and accepting style of parenting.
The
"genetics" arguments above are both inaccurate. Deficient genes
from the same parents can show up in one child but be absent in another.
Also, the home environment can have very different effects from one sibling
to another. Some children are not harmed by family dysfunction to the
extent that others are.
Therefore, THE CAUSE of Asperger's
Syndrome could be either genetic, environmental, or varying combinations of
the two.
The fact is that nobody knows for certain.
Feb 24, 2009 5:54 AM
Guest :
You need to be fired from your job as one of WORLD LEADER's in child
abuse, forbidden truth, and pschohistory studies(sounds like maybe you were
abused and never got help)!
Seems like maybe you need to a little more
RESEARCH on the matter.
It is insulting to actually read something
that clearly amplifies that you are TOTALLY uneducated in ASD!
GET A
NEW JOB....before you hurt someone.
May 5, 2009 5:45 PM
Guest :
re: Actually, you are wrong. Bad parenting, pollution, child abuse etc.
This wins the most idiotic statement of the day. I love the DNA
statement though.. Because from what you are saying, all children would
theoretically be all born identical.. and all have identical blood types.
Are you aware we are talking about humans not robots here? Do you know
anything about DNA?
I am happily married and have been so
for the past 10 years we are both high income earners. I am self employed
and have all the time in the world for my children. We have a loving family
environment and certainly non abusive on any level. Both children go to a
private school and are excel in academics. I do not and never will force
them into extra curricular activities if they have no desire to.
My
husband demonstrates many A.S traits and our children have been diagnosed
to be "mild" cases.
Your post leads me to believe you
are here to stir up trouble as it a bunch of waffle, highlighting
"world leaders".
It is truly disturbing people like
you exist out there with these riduclous, backward ideas.
It is
actually quite laughable.
May 5, 2009 5:47 PM
Guest :
comment of the year goes to:
"a crazed manifesto written by
someone who has just blown up a post office"
My sentiments
exactly.
May 15, 2009 7:23 PM
Guest :
I must say I'm appalled at how certain you seem. Just because you
"have never heard of" parents who are truly happy and successful
having children with AS does not mean a thing statistically. Furthermore,
what is "truly happy" and "successful?" Those terms are
completely arbitrary, and they presuppose assumptions. I hope you do not
go elsewhere preaching these opinions as fact...
May 16, 2009 4:09 PM
Guest :
Actually you are wrong. Perhaps you should do some research before you open
your mouth. I have a 9 year old nephew with Aspergers Syndrome and I can
assure you that bad parenting, child abuse,substance abuse, low-income and
anger had nothing to do with this child having Aspergers. We, as his
family, have done everything possible to help this beautiful child adjust
as well as possible to his different attitude toward life. I resent the
fact that you seem to think that money, bad parenting, or child abuse may
be responsible for his behavior. If that were the case, there would be an
epidemic of children with aspergers. I think there are probably many more
abused children and bad parents out there than autistic children. How do
you account for the children that aren't autistic? Were they just lucky?
Jun 30, 2009 11:53 AM
Guest :
My neighbours son has been diagnosed with AS. He has two very
dysfunctional parents. Its is very convenient for them to 'blame' AS.
Either the diagnosis is wrong or AS is not genetic. Or both. More likely
both since folk these days cant wait to blame genes for everything.
Personally I dont have the ironing gene which means I dont iron anything.
If thats a good enough excuse Ill use it.
Aug 1, 2009 5:47 AM
Guest :
Wow, I agree that bad parenting can lead to many issues, but that last
psycho saying that only low income people with substance abuse issues have
Aspergers is seriously ignorant, not to mention offensive.
I
have never smoked, drank or used illegal drugs. In fact, I only use over
the counter drugs once a year or so. My family is the same. I also come
from a family of geniuses with freakishly high IQs and high ability as well
as above average income. Oh yeah, and I have strong symptoms of Aspergers.
I am a member of Mensa and have noticed that a significant number of people
with high IQ have Aspergers and none of them match the picture of trashy
losers that the person below has described.
Aug 17, 2009 10:31 AM
Guest :
My niece has a mild case of AS. She's from a well-educated, financially
stable, loving family. Sometimes she does socially unacceptable things but
she IS only 5. Her brother doesn't have it and they're both well-adjusted,
kind, loving children. Whoever the first horribly UNqualified person is
should go get some help for their lingering issues and do more research
before opening their mouth because you're WRONG!!!
Sep 3, 2009 5:23 AM
Guest :
I agree with Guest somewhat. I think Asperger a way for certain children,
those that are emotionally weak, of coping with very dominant, inflexible
parents that treat children as if they did not have a personality of their
own and they have to behave the way they expect. Helicopter parents are an
example. Parents that are constantly fuisng about thier kids.
13 Comments
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