O ENIGMA DO AUTISMO: CONTRIBUIÇÕES SOBRE A ETIOLOGIA DO TRANSTORNO

The lack of a definitive explanation for the causes of autism in children is an enigma that creates significant suffering among parents and difficulties for health professionals. This study is a critical review of the possible causes of autism, currently known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), spanning the period from the first description of the syndrome in 1943 until 2015. The objective of this article is to outline the current scenario of studies about this type of disorder in order to emphasize the points of convergence and the differences between the positions taken by the researchers who have dedicated themselves to this topic. The analysis suggests four main paradigms that attempt to encompass the etiology of autism: 1) the Biological-Genetic Paradigm; 2) the Relational Paradigm; 3) the Environmental Paradigm; and 4) the Neurodiversity Paradigm. By questioning these paradigms, we hope to deepen comprehension of this disorder in the current scientific context