This particular theory, while amusing, we find totally absurd.

I think that there is not one single cause for autism. And there are so many different shades of autism that it’s likely that some get it for different reasons than others.

As far as the geek theory, I do think that genetics plays a part. My husband and I would probably be classified as geeks so we hardly blow this theory out of the water.

But for our son, we believe it was a handful of things that may have caused it including a very traumatic birth experience where he may have lost oxygen.

Regardless of how absurd the Uranus-Neptune theory may be, I’m glad you got the conversation started. I’m curious to read what others have to say on this.

Second, your article on Obama and NASA was interesting. I work in DC and yes, that is a very desperate plea to keep a job. If they start using NASA to keep an eye on global warming and create more energy efficient inventions (both velcro and TANG were great NASA creations), then yes, that administrator should keep his job.

I read the wired article years ago and think that it may hold some water. I think a genetic link for autism is very likely and has been supported by research. Environmental toxins can not be ruled out entirely though and I think that is something that should be explored further.

I also think that the current “epidemic” of autism is not so much an increase in the actual number of people with autism but is more the result of the radical changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism and autism spectrum disorders that happened between 1980 and 1994. Those changes really made the criteria much broader so it is natural we would see the number of diagnosed cases increase. I don’t think that is a bad thing though. Potentially it means children who have these disorders who where not diagnosed before might be better understood and helped instead of just written off as difficult, weird or unmanageable children.

It’s a fine line though some would argue that labeling the less sever cases hurts those kids by telling them there is something about them that “needs to be fixed” and also takes time and effort away from researching how to help the more sever forms of autism.