Idiopathic Autism vs Secondary Autism

Whilst autism is becoming more common, the cause is generally unknown. In general, studies indicate that there is a genetic factor to autism and that environmental “triggers” may induce specific individuals to develop autistic symptoms; nevertheless, the extreme mechanism of the genetic and environmental causes of autism for any person is unidentified.

Secondary autism is defined as autism of a known source (induced by a known genetic anomaly or exposure). Idiopathic autism refers to autism that has no known cause.