Tylenol and ASD
This letter to the editor, by Joyce Santo, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on October 16, 2025.
Tylenol and ASD It seems like every week the Trump administration comes up with another outlandish statement meant to distract us from its ongoing scandals, failures and grifting. Last week it was the claim that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy causes autism. This one hit home. I spent a good portion of my career working with young children with autism and their parents.
Parenting a child with challenges can be overwhelming and navigating the medical, educational and therapeutic information can feel endless. It is important for parents to know where to turn for credible information. Having the head of our government make reckless statements about causes or cures can only make matters more confusing and upsetting.
Autism was first identified by Leo Kanner in 1943. In the 1950s Bruno Bettleheim promoted the notion that Autism was the result of cold parenting and coined the phrase “Refrigerator Mother”. Unfortunately, this belief was commonly held until the late 1970s and lingered into the 1990s when MRI studies confirmed neurological differences.
Imagine having a baby that is difficult to soothe, does not respond when you talk to them and overreacts to everyday sights, sounds and tactile experiences, then being told it’s your fault. I, like many others, believed we had moved beyond blaming the mother.
Autism is now recognized as a spectrum disorder (ASD) caused by differences in the brain and is highly genetic. There is still much we do not know; however, there is ongoing legitimate research on the causes of ASD and treatments. Those interested can learn more by going to the Autism Society of America or AuSM website.
One thing we do know for sure, the earlier ASD is identified and effective intervention begins, the better the outcome. If you are concerned about your infant’s behavior or just want to learn more about early social engagement, explore the Autism Navigator website, it’s fascinating. Joyce Santo Hudson