8 Things That Don't Cause Autism

Autism isn't contagious

baby watching tv with stuffed bear

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It seems that every day something new is implicated as a possible cause of autism. Because there is so little solid information about exactly what does cause autism, it's easy to get caught up in every sensational theory. Could it be pesticides? Dog shampoo? Airplane contrails? All of these and much more have been suggested as possible causes for a rise in diagnoses.

The reality is that we are not even certain that there has been a significant increase in the number of autistic people. All we know is that, when the diagnostic criteria expanded, so did the number of people who qualified for diagnosis. And as awareness expanded, so did the number of diagnoses.

Does that mean that more people are actually autistic now than 20 or 30 years ago? The answer is a qualified "maybe." But that doesn't stop people from coming up with (or even believing in) inaccurate theories about the causes of autism.

Incorrect Theories About the Causes of Autism

We don't know exactly why most autistic people are autistic, but we do know that at least some of the theories are flat out wrong. Here is the truth about some of the theories that we know to be incorrect.

You can't "catch" autism

Some people are nervous about allowing their children to come into contact with autistic peers out of anxiety over contagion. But autism is not an infectious disease; it can't be passed from person to person through a virus, bacteria, or any other means (except heredity). Even if a child is constantly in contact with an autistic child, they cannot "catch" autism. You may notice an allistic, or non-autistic, child copying the mannerisms of an autistic peer, but no one can become autistic as a result of physical proximity.

What is more likely happening when a person begins to exhibit more autistic traits is that the child or adult thought to be allistic is an autistic person who has been chronically masking and is now no longer doing so because of acceptance, community, and/or autistic burnout. Chronic masking is unsustainable and is dangerous because it can lead to suicidal ideation and stress-related physical and mental health issues.

You can't cause autism by allowing your baby to "cry It out"

Parents sometimes worry whether their decision to allow a baby to cry rather than hurrying to comfort them could have caused autism. The answer is no: a child's frustration cannot cause autism. And while child abuse can certainly cause emotional problems unrelated to autism, allowing a baby to "cry it out" is not child abuse.

Depending upon the particular situation, it is possible that excessive tantrums or meltdowns could be the result of as-yet-undiagnosed autism. Autistic infants may be unusually sensitive to light, smell, sounds, or physical sensations—so a wet diaper may be more upsetting to an autistic baby than to an allistic baby. But there is no way that autism can be caused by tantrums or emotions.

Poor nutrition doesn't cause autism

Many parents have put their autistic children on gluten and casein-free diets (and other special diets). That does not mean that they "caused" their children's autism by feeding them wheat or dairy (or French fries or soda).

Research suggests that autism often co-occurs with gastrointestinal issues that can cause discomfort, and removing the cause of that discomfort is very likely to improve wellness, behavior, attentiveness, and mood. Thus, while a change in diet may (in a small percentage of cases) help a child, poor nutrition and allergens don't cause autism.

"Bad" parenting doesn't cause autism

A few decades ago, Bruno Bettelheim infamously influenced the medical profession with his theory that autism is caused by cold "refrigerator" mothers. Bettelheim was wrong, but a generation of parents nevertheless wound up being blamed for their children's disabilities. This kind of hurtful blaming is a thing of the past.

Cable television doesn't cause autism

A while back, a study came out that suggested the idea that, since cable TV and autism increased in popularity at the same time, there might be a connection. There is no evidence whatever to support the idea that allowing someone to watch a lot of television could make them autistic.

Cell phones don't cause autism

Over the years, the media has reported on theories that electromagnetic radiation (ER) created by cell phones and wi-fi networks are behind a rise in autism diagnoses. This theory most likely developed because mobile technology and autism spectrum diagnoses increased at about the same rate over a similar period of time. There is research to support the idea that ER does have an impact on the brain—but so far no credible connection has been made between ER and autism. Certainly, people are not causing others to be autistic by using cell phones.

Difficult family situations don't cause autism

One parent was told her son was autistic because "he had too many siblings." Other people worry that a divorce or death in the family could have caused a child, teen, or adult to be autistic. This is absolutely untrue. Children cope with divorce, death, and much more, and while there may be psychological implications, such experiences cannot cause autism.

If a person does become withdrawn or unhappy, however, it is certainly possible that they are suffering from a non-autism-related mood disorder which should be diagnosed and treated. A trauma or huge change can trigger autistic burnout and associated skill regression as well as a low to no capacity to mask, which can look like "more" autistic traits.

Spanking doesn't cause autism

Blows to the head, lack of oxygen, and other physical trauma can certainly cause brain damage. People with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may have behaviors similar to those of autistic people or even be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. But a swift whack to the rear end, while it may be a controversial approach to child rearing, cannot cause autism in a toddler.

A Word From Verywell

Recent findings suggest that by far the most significant contributing factor to autism is genetics. In some cases, that means autism is inherited; in other cases, spontaneous mutations played a role.

Whether you live in a mansion or are unhoused, eat organic veggies or packaged mac and cheese, coddle your baby or let them cry, it is extremely unlikely that you (or anyone else) caused your child to be autistic. Just as importantly, it is extremely unlikely that any diet, pill, or therapy will completely eradicate your child's autism.

Autism is one of many neurotypes, which means it is simply how some people's brains are. Autistic traits have existed long before they were associated together or given a label. Many of the things that make autism a disability are based in how our society is built and who it focuses on accommodating (ie. doors are not 2 feet high because most people are taller). Wanting to "cure" or "fix" an autistic person means rejecting who they are; it is only possible by breaking, traumatizing, and temporarily or irreparably harming them.

The bottom line is that every autistic person is who they are, and the most important thing you can do for yourself or a loved one is to ensure access to love, support, and understanding!

Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

By Lisa Jo Rudy
Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism.