[Justa]

There are very clear clinical indicators for ASD. No one gets labeled with ASD without going thru multiple diagnostic testing routines. If it was genetic, changing the standards of ASD or increased screening practices you wouldn't get this:

[Alas Babylon!]

There are very clear clinical indicators for ASD.

What? Do you think those "clear clinical indicators" just popped up in whole?

No!

They took YEARS to develop, and frankly, your chart proves it.

In 1975 they called them retarded. Very few, including doctors, referred to any of this as autism.

Medical science has made significant advances since those time, and one of the major contributors have been better clinical indicators and practices.

[D Rider]

Hormonal birth control started in 1957. The government got in the act to make it common and affordable in 1965.

[Paperpusher]

If it was genetic, changing the standards of ASD or increased screening practices you wouldn’t get this:

Graph: Rise in prevalence of Autism over time

Yes, yes you would. Lowering the standards of ASD could give you a graph just like the one you show.

[Neoliberalnot]

I realize more cases are being diagnosed. There were several items listed as responsible including the clear familial links, environmental pollutants, especially in air, etc

[9YearLurker]

You could theoretically get it with changing the standards (though I don’t think it is just that) and certainly the changed standards have contributed to the numbers.