Diagnosing and remedying developmental disorders are now centered in an otherwise unusual place — the gut, not the brain.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with anything on the autism spectrum have been object of both ridicule and enthrallment, the breath of which is astounding to everyone, including those with this diagnosis. Only in the past few decades have we come to see the diagnosis as multifactorial, including both those who have problematic social skills as well as those who can view the world in new, creative ways.

Some of these individuals have achieved extraordinary roles in our culture and climbed to the highest heights regarding creativity and management responsibilities. Therefore, we need to respect everyone with a diagnosis of autism as an individual and not simply a diagnosis.

Although there is no one known cause or pathophysiology for autism, present diagnostic criteria are associated with around 200 hereditary and environmental factors. Hundreds of different patterns of restricted and repetitive interests and activities, as well as persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, are permissible under the current DSM-5 criteria for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This broad phenotypic variation has caused numerous researchers to doubt the ASD diagnosis, and it seems to have grown significantly in the past two decades.

Autism Myths Exposed as Damaging to Individuals

The spread of false information must be countered with what we currently know from verifiable research. Knowing what is true and what is false can greatly improve your experience if you are autistic, a parent of an autistic child, or both. Here are eight examples of widespread false beliefs concerning autism spectrum disorder:
1. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a medical condition.
Autism is not a disease; it is a neurological characteristic. As a neurodevelopmental disorder, ASD indicates that a child’s brain does not develop or operate normally in the same way as a “typical” child’s brain. But unique does not imply incorrect. Furthermore, not every autistic person is unique.
2. Autism is a mental disorder.
Additionally, ASD is distinct from mental disorder in important ways. Schizophrenia and alcohol use disorder are two among the many mental diseases that typically manifest in later life. Conversely, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a genetic disorder. Treatments for mental illness are well-established in the medical community. Unfortunately, autism remains “incurable.”
3. An epidemic of autism is taking place.
Everyone knows what autism spectrum disorder is now. The availability and quality of services for children with autism are increasing in tandem with the public’s understanding of the disorder.
4. There is a gender bias in autism.
Although ASD is more common in boys than girls, autism is not a gender-specific disorder. Approximately 4% of boys are autistic, according to the research, whereas only 1% of girls fall into this category.
5. Classifying all individuals with autism the same.
Assuming that all autistic individuals have the same traits or challenges is incorrect. Some common misconceptions about autistic persons include that they are brilliant, aggressive, have intellectual or learning difficulties, lack empathy, have trouble forming relationships, have trouble communicating, and have trouble in the workplace or at home.
6. Vaccines given to children as children cause autism.
Conclusions were based on erroneous data. The claim that vaccines cause autism lacks any evidence from the scientific community. Although there is a lot of evidence to the contrary, many people persist in believing this myth.
7. Autism is caused by bad parenting.
There is no correlation between autism and parenting techniques. The unfortunate reality is that this misconception continues to be perpetuated and used as an excuse to criticize and condemn parents.
8. A “cure” exists for autism.
Living with autism is challenging and unpredictable. There is no known “cure” for it, and it is not a sickness.

How Autism May Occur

Biomarkers are signs of a condition’s presence at a specific moment in time; they might be genes, proteins, metabolites, or other samples taken from the body. So far, autism has no recognized biomarkers. The fact that there are numerous possible causes of autism and that researchers often disregard the interplay between these factors has significantly impeded efforts to identify biomarkers.

Gut microorganisms may serve as a biomarker for neurological disorders like autism. Scientists are very interested in the gut-brain axis, which refers to the relationship between the two systems. Immunity, neurotransmitter balance, digestive health, and countless other aspects of health are profoundly impacted by gut microorganisms.

A study conducted in Sweden monitored parents and almost 17,000 children born between 1997 and 1999 from the moment they were born. By the age of 23, roughly 1,200 of these youngsters had been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental condition.

Prior to the onset of neurodevelopmental symptoms like irritability, irritability, and sleep disturbances, as well as official medical diagnoses, there were notable variations in bacterial composition and metabolite levels. Autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and speech difficulties were among the numerous medical illnesses that exhibited these variations in this sample study.

It would appear that there is a great deal of variation in the microorganisms and metabolites that impact immunological and brain health in the umbilical cord blood and feces of newborns and children around the age of one. An increased risk of autism was found in children with microbial imbalances and a history of antibiotic overuse.

What is one thing that antibiotics do that is usually not understood? They kill much of the gut bacteria that is important in the gut-brain interaction. How many parents are told to replace the "good bacteria" after antibiotic use? I would suggest that this is lacking in healthcare. A compromised immune system or impaired brain development, both of which are impacted by the gut microbiota, may be indicated by a history of antibiotic usage in early life.

But do we know definitively if either early antibiotic use or some other prenatal condition in the gut may have contributed to the development of autism? It would appear that the jury is still out on this question as well as as many others. But it is a start in seeking answers to questions that have a huge impact on a child and an adult life.

Everything must be considered in the face of current, replicable research, and not myths that only serve to hurt others. Myth should be kept to fairytales and not science.