Hack Journalist links autism to mothers drinking

Yet another scare story about Alcohol and trying to link it to Autism this time.

This time the Editor has allowed the following headline in the Scotland on Sunday

Expert links autism to mothers drinking

Some hack in the Scotland on Sunday then says

MODERATE drinking during pregnancy could be the hidden cause of thousands of serious childhood disorders including autism, Scotland's leading authority on alcohol and health warned last night.

If we read the article a bit closer we find that apparently

Dr Maggie Watts, vice chairman on alcohol for the Scottish Association of Alcohol and Drug Action Teams, fears that even low levels of drinking could be related to a range of behavioural problems in young children, the cause of which has previously been a mystery. Watts, who is also a consultant in public health medicine at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, warned that up to one in 100 Scots children - as many as 9,000 - could be suffering from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) with symptoms including behavioural and memory difficulties. But she said many could be misdiagnosed as suffering from autism and other neurodevelopmental problems because doctors do not ask mothers about their pregnancy drinking habits when making their diagnosis.

So the hack somehow manages to conclude that these cases are linked to Autism when Dr Watts says specifically that they have been misdiagnosed. How a decent editor has allowed this through and into print is beyond my brain power.

Read the article carefully and you will see that it is not Autism we are talking about but Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) which has nothing to do with Autism. The headline just tries to link Alcohol and Autism together.

As a parent of an autistic spectrum child this type of hack journalism and appalling editorship is to be despised. Next time please try and find out what you are talking about before writing this sort of utter tosh.

Uodate: Of course what is moderate drinking, and also please read this story by the Devils Kitchen which will make you think a little before believing the next "Health Warning"

Please don't get me wrong I do not think drinking alcohol in pregnancy is a good idea, I just think responsible reporting is a good idea and what we deserve from our papers.

Scotsman.com News - Expert links autism to mothers drinking