Personally, 1) perhaps the chemicals in the inoculations 2) perhaps our need in society to do things quick and easy/ the use of pitocin, a synthetic hormone used to speed up delivery. 3) a weaken gene or a predeposition for. 4.) our food is compromised 5) a catch all diagnosis. ***** notice***** #5 is a catch all because the DSM for autism was recently tightened up, as it was over-diagnosed. Many symptoms of autism overlap other things like childhood anciexty, add, ovd. I speak from experience. I have a child that could easily be "shopped around" till he was diagnosed. Instead, we chose extensive therapy. May not work for everyone. But I do have a neice with autism and she has... Drum roll..extensive therapy.