Or environmental.
A lot more kids are being diagnosed with autism now. Does anyone know whether it is better diagnosis, much looser diagnostic standards or more children really have autism than before? Probably one way to check is to compare numbers at constant symptom levels (numbers then who just stare into space vs number now and then continue down the symptom list). If the severe case counts are the same but the minor cases are now much more common there probably aren't more cases but instead more diagnoses of autism. Then you need to split the real cases properly diagnosed vs the number of newly misdiagnosed cases for purposes of payment for treatment or disability payments.
Is it possible there are more autistic children now because of women generally having children at an older age?
We have never received disability payments for our kids. We feel that there are other disabled kids who need it more than our kids. There are those out there who will use the diagnosis to milk the system, and those people make me ill. That’s totally unacceptable in my book. Our kids have made great strides through love, therapy, and patience. That goes a lot further than any amount of money. The rewards are much greater also.