[SamuraiScot]

There is no reason to assume that the incidence of genuine autism has increased, without accounting for all of the other factors.

I see no reason to assume it hasn't, especially since the perception that autism has increased is not mine alone, but is widespread. There is no need to protect either hypothesis.

[exDemMom]

I see no reason to assume it hasn't, especially since the perception that autism has increased is not mine alone, but is widespread. There is no need to protect either hypothesis.

The perception is there because it gets a lot of publicity. Whenever something gets a lot of publicity, there is always a perception that it is occurring more often than before it was publicized.