This has been my theory about the rise in autism rates for some time, but every doctor I’ve told this theory to has looked at me blankly. Next time I’ll hand them the article and say nothing of my own view.

Admittedly, I can’t blame the doctors, since my formal empirical research backing up my theory is nonexistent, but it is interesting to see someone else posit the same theory, with some supporting data (not unlike some of Thomas Sowell’s writing about late talkers).

Scientific research into the causes of autism is in its infancy, however, so all science has for now is theories. Plus, autism varies so much among individuals that we are hardly in a position to say now that only one cause is at work.