What do you think is causing the rise in the number of autism cases?

@NigelDoes: It's also because processed food costs pennies compared to fresh food, and too many people can only afford that which comes in boxes and cans.

If you can't afford to feed your children healthy food then you shouldn't have kids.

@Oconnor: That is very hard. We got WIC and foods stamps.

That helps to be more understanding. Thank you.

VERY true. And you've got Internet-professionals who use outdated information all the time. Asperger's isn't even in the DSM-5 anymore. You'll be amazed - now that no one can get insurance to pay for treatment of a non-recognized disorder - how many fewer cases we'll see in the next five years.

Big Pharma creates, fabricates, makes up out of whole cloth disorders, syndromes, diseases and maladies. Luckily, they always have a brand new expensive drug to fight them.

Aspergers is not in the DSM V because it has been moved to be included with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The diagnosis wasn't eliminated, it was clarified. Why have aspergers as a separately listed disorder when really aspies are just people with autism who are high functioning?

Second, there is no medication for ASD. Big pharma does not benefit from the diagnosis of ASD. Most of the interventions for ASD are sensory and behavioral.

Third you should know that ASD vary widely in their presentations but are diagnosed by a specific criteria. It is not simply emotional problems - children with emotional problems are diagnosed with the specific emotional disorder that fits their symptoms. Often people with ASD have co occurring disorders.

My experience with ASD has taught me autism is a different way of seeing and processing the world.

@Doomflower: You make some very good points in a casual discussion that perhaps shouldn't be so casual. I would argue that while meds aren't the indicated treatment method for ASD, plenty of prescriptions are written around its "symptoms."

And while ASD is completely legitimate, it's still unfortunately used as a catch-all by lazy or unskilled therapists.

Nope.