Background: Parent-reported developmental regression
occurs in an average of one-third of children with autism spectrum disorder
(ASD). While prospective, clinician-rated studies detect higher rates of skill
losses, understanding parent perception of this phenomenon
is valuable, as it may subsequently color parents’ thoughts about ASD and
decisions they make on behalf of their families. Limited data suggest that
parents who observed regression in their children were significantly more likely
to believe that external factors—most often vaccines—caused ASD
The five causes that families most frequently
endorsed were genetics (75.8%), child’s brain structure (59.7%), will of God
(46.3%), toxins found in vaccines (41.8%), and environmental pollution
(37.4%).
