possible cause of autism?

Iain said:

VLD said:

You don't know how incredibly harmful this sort of misinformation can be.

Can you back up this claim that it is misinformation?

In support of VLD  , when I first read this thread, I immediately saw four sources of potential misinformation in just the first sentence: "I read with interest a new article on the connection with some painkillers used by pregnant women and having neurodiverse children":

1. It refers to “the connection” (rather than, for example, “a potential”). 

This could mislead people into believing that, this new study aside, it has already been established that a connection exists - which isn't true. 

2. It refers to a connection between the drug and autism. With our literal-minded autistic tendencies in mind, there's an important difference between a connection and an association. "Connection" is misleading - the study talks about an association:

The Content Authority - Association vs connection

3. It refers to “some painkillers” (plural). This could mislead people (again, perhaps especially autistic people) into believing that this “connection” has already been established in respect of multiple other painkilling drugs - which it hasn’t.

4. It describes “the connection” as relating to mothers having “neurodiverse children”. 

The paper relates only to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), not to any of the many other forms of neurodivergence. 

Also, “neurodiverse”, if interpreted in its originally-intended meaning (literally) makes no sense. Neurodivergent might have been a better choice, and NDDs (the actual focus of the paper) an even better one:

Emergent Divergence - Neurodiversity: the Basics

NAS - Autism and Neurodiversity

Reflections on Neurodiversity - Judy Singer's Official Definition of Neurodiversity ©

Iain said:

VLD said:

You don't know how incredibly harmful this sort of misinformation can be.

Can you back up this claim that it is misinformation?

In support of VLD  , when I first read this thread, I immediately saw four sources of potential misinformation in just the first sentence: "I read with interest a new article on the connection with some painkillers used by pregnant women and having neurodiverse children":

1. It refers to “the connection” (rather than, for example, “a potential”). 

This could mislead people into believing that, this new study aside, it has already been established that a connection exists - which isn't true. 

2. It refers to a connection between the drug and autism. With our literal-minded autistic tendencies in mind, there's an important difference between a connection and an association. "Connection" is misleading - the study talks about an association:

The Content Authority - Association vs connection

3. It refers to “some painkillers” (plural). This could mislead people (again, perhaps especially autistic people) into believing that this “connection” has already been established in respect of multiple other painkilling drugs - which it hasn’t.

4. It describes “the connection” as relating to mothers having “neurodiverse children”. 

The paper relates only to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), not to any of the many other forms of neurodivergence. 

Also, “neurodiverse”, if interpreted in its originally-intended meaning (literally) makes no sense. Neurodivergent might have been a better choice, and NDDs (the actual focus of the paper) an even better one:

Emergent Divergence - Neurodiversity: the Basics

NAS - Autism and Neurodiversity

Reflections on Neurodiversity - Judy Singer's Official Definition of Neurodiversity ©

I think Iain's second sentence clarified most of that already:

Iain said:

The study links prenatal paracetamol (or Tylenol for US readers) use to increased autism and ADHD risk.