What are the causes of autism?
Furthermore, what is the main cause for autism?
There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to in neurotypical children.
Likewise, how does a child develop autism?
A common question after an autism diagnosis is what is the cause of autism. We know that there's no one cause of autism. Research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences. These influences appear to increase the risk that a child will develop autism.
Research seems to suggest that there is a genetic influence that increases the child's risk of having autism. For example, if one child in a family has autism, a sibling has a three to five per cent chance of also having the condition or a related problem, such as a language disorder.