Tuesday 9 October 2007

Does TV cause autism?


Aunt of Shrek phoned last night to ask if it was ok to let my young nephew watch more TV whilst he wasn’t very well, as she had heard too much TV for young children wasn’t very good.

This reminded me a year or so ago there was a study about TV causing autism! I kid you not! Does this mean no one was autistic before TV was invented??!
Over the years there have been many theories to the cause of autism. One of the first was it was the fault of refrigerator parenting! We now know this not to be true!
Then there was mercury and food intolerance, even rain, the MMR, and Indigo and Crystal children. And im sure many others. And I wonder what will be next! In the mean time I will just enjoy C for who he is.

In my opinion its genetic and environment.

So yes sis it is ok for 7 0f 8 to watch TV (but not too much!)! Hope he feels better soon xx

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I used to always worry about too much television for my son, but a specialist once told me that allowing a period of reasonable quality television time each day can provide 'rest time' for his brain (as opposed to social play). It allows him down time for a while where he only has to focus on one thing, and not worry about interacting with lots of things in the environment. We still monitor what and how much he watches, but I don't panic about it like I used to.

Anonymous said...

God, it's pathetic. Television can cause all sorts of problems including violence. I questioned the MMR but have been assured many times by my GP that it was quite safe. Don't you think, Casdok, that it's about time the so-called experts found a cause for autism. Nobody knows for sure what causes it. In Amy's case it could be a number of things, all relating to me and her biological father.

Crystal xx

Casdok said...

Yes i think we need to know once and for all the cause, so to stop speculation.
As long as they then dont try and cure it.

Posie said...

You are so right, just you enjoy C. All of this speculation must be so frustrating, and then the so called 'blame and guilt' culture of being a mum gets right up my nose at times, honestly you feel like you can't do anything 'right' everything seems to have 'danger' stamped on it, from the food we eat, to the recreational activities, to where you live and so on...

buffalodick said...

Too much TV causes stupidity, not autism.....

QUASAR9 said...

So you've got humour
or have you developed the art

Funny how some things we understand and can treat, and others are beyond science.

Curious though how we expect to treat everything with pharmaceuticals. Seems it is easier (from a research point of view) if we can put everything doen to a chemical imbalance

Beth said...

I checked out the link for refrigerator parenting. I see that it refers to both parents but originally referred to mothers. Mothers get such a hard time - blame, guilt...

BBC said...

Very interesting, I agree with you, that TV can 'promote' it. Depending on what is watched of course. Ads encouraging people to want more for sure is a kicker.

My main interest in autism is the mild end of it, and always trying to please self. Make self happy with more things.

I just don't understand why people think that having more or nicer of anything will make them happy.

The happiest woman I know hasn't even got a fridge or a hot water heater. Hum.

Well, she has got a great neighbor that gives her plenty of hugs. *A little plug for me, LOL*

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

Not cure it??? I'd love to unlock the boy inside my son; I love him as he is now, but to have him enter society on a level playing field, no more vulnerable than the adult next to him? For that I would leap mountains.

Nancy said...

I think your opinion is right on cas.

People usually come to ridiculous conclusions out of ignorance or fear.

I hope your nephew feels better and enjoys his day on the couch watching TV =)

Casdok said...

Shrink wrapped scream, no i wouldnt wipe autism out! Where would the world be then? See some of my previous posts)
And where does the autism end and the child start? Is dosnt!
We need to change societies attitude to get that level playing field!

Odat said...

Too much of anything can cause LOTS of things....lol.
Peace

Gary said...

Yes, the research on TV I'm familiar with is more about stifling the imagination and kids getting fat butts!

I wonder, as a newcomer to learning about autism, why the cases are increasing so much. One explanation is better diagnosis and awareness - another is the environment. If it were only diagnosis, wouldn't there be a large number of older people who are also now being diagnosed?

In ignorance, but striving...

Mid-lifer said...

For goodness sake - what next? we're always trying to find a reason for things and some people will always look for blame. (Too much TV and overeating are the modern demons).

Thanks for dropping by my blog, I have enjoyed yours.

Chris Stovell said...

Hi Casdok, I read your blogs but don't often comment - which is a bit rude of me - but it's because I know very little about autism (although I'm learning from your's and Crystal's blogs). Best wishes. C.

Casdok said...

Gary i dont think they bother to re diagnose older people? Would be interesting if they did.

And its great to hear people are learning from my blog!!

Cathy said...

Now you've got me googling crystal children. Never heard of that one before! ;)

Cx

Marla said...

I about died laughing when I saw the picture of your the aunt. She must not read this blog! As I read this Maizie and I are curled up watching Sponge Bob...going on the second hour of Sponge Bob in fact. Lovely. But hey, what else is there to do when your child is tired and it is raining outside! I hate all the theories or I should say I hate the theories that people try and push on me! Now that we know Maizie has a chromosome disorder and still fits critereia for autism we get less crap. But, I have had many people still blame it on many factors. Frustrating!

Casdok said...

Yes my sis does read it, thats why i put it there!!

Elizabeth McClung said...

I don't think ausburgers even was a diagnosis until 9 or 10 years ago. Where I was in Britian all children with autism were put in "homes" and their parents had no contact with them from an early age ("it's all for the best") - There was not even an attempt at schooling or socialization, just restraints. I know this because our friends, a gay couple have four of what they affectionately refer to as "the boys" (ranging from 26-40's) into their home to take care of them and get them out of the institution. Of course, their relationship is a secret because that might be dangerously close to a gay couple "adopting" - as for TV - yes, it made me do everything, it made me not do everything, even when I am not watching, it is still making me do things. Much the way the clouds moving across the sky in my window make me do things.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I think autism causes TV.

Jocelyn said...

Your opinion seems the most sound of all.

As I limit my kids' tv watching, I fondly remember how I got to watch tv all the time, everyday.

And I turned out okay.

But I still make 'em turn it off.

Hermes said...

Well said. People try to blame ADD and ADHD on TV as well. There is no evidence to support the popular belief that TV causes any sort of cognitive disorder. BUT it just might trigger an epileptic fit in those predisposed.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

I agree with you 100%!

Little Wing said...

Enjoying a person who happens to have autism for who they are is as rewarding as enjoying anyone for who they are, and you and C still rock!

Anonymous said...

Years ago, I was doing a Social History, for a child we were testing to get Special Education Services for. The parents insisted he got the autism because they conceived him on the washing machine, while it was on the spin cycle. I swear to God. They were totally serious and really believed this to be the cause. They seemed fairly intelligent, and I was so stunned, I thought they were joking. But, they were serious, it was the only "reasonable" explanation they could come up with, that was different from their other children. I could not convince them otherwise or get them to consider other possibilities, and they had obviously had this discussion with the doctors. Anyway, I love your attitude that you are going to take your son as he is, and love him and enjoy him. I think that is such a wonderful way to look at autism.
XOXO

Jenn O'Neil said...

I love what you said about "no curing it". I was with my two boys tonight (respite care both boys Developmentally Delayed) and their mother and I talk sometimes about getting just a few hours with them so they could talk to us (they are non verbal) but by the end of the conversation we both agree that we wouldn't give them up as they are for anything. I love those kids as if they were my own and I feel lucky that their mother shares them with me.

Anonymous said...

I used to teach an autistic child, he was 5 at the time and developmentally was kind of in the 15 month to 2 year range. At that time a lot of the thought was that it was caused by food allergies.


From what I understand he had shown no signs of anything being wrong until he was about 15 months old, the age where they start to eat more diverse foods and snacks. And we saw a marked difference when we were working depending on what he had eaten that day and the day before. She kept him on a mostly gluten free diet.

I loved working with him, he was a fun boy.

melakaplanter said...

Stop our child watch TV.

I refer my danish play at outside rather than watching TV.

But my danish like ads so much.

Casdok said...

Eileen
Ive heard it all now!!!

mommy~dearest said...

Rain??? Wow...

landsker said...

There is some autism in my own family, which seems to stem from earlier generations, and has links to Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
It also, sadly appears to be passed on to furure generations, even those who abstain from alcohol.
Tobacco/nicotine has very strong connections, though the lobby for alcohol and tobacco always denies such links.
There is also a high incidence of autism amongst the children of servicemen exposed to high levels of explosives and munitions.
I`m sure you know most of that already, and are more concerned with practical issues.
My daughter has found that a vegetarian diet, an avoidance of all dairy foods, no alcohol or tobacco, and avoiding loud people and places does help.
Peace.