I have a son who was symptomatic long before he had been exposed to the TV. He showed symptoms within days after he was born. Interestingly he was formula fed (not to get into that debate, but the one thing that is clear is formula does not do anything to help immune development), so the timing may indicate a milk allergy/intolerance, which he has. It could also point to insufficient immune development.

Interestingly we are a family with a very high incidence of autoimmune diseases, asthma, and allergies (food and environmental).

While there has been no corroboration of the vaccine/autism link, there have been some recent studies into the incidence of autism in families with autoimmune diseases. Which does require us to revisit the vaccine link: what do vaccines in general, and for that matter, mercury do to the immune system? Perhaps we were looking for the wrong link. It will be interesting to see what incidence the selective/delayed/alternate schedule vaccine populations show in autism over say, the next decade.

That said, my autistic son was not vaccinated before he showed symptoms, since he was symptomatic well before his 2 month check up. Which doesn't preclude *my* having been exposed to some sort of immune stimulant while pregnant with him. It may in fact be that the difference between regressive and classic presentations is whether the mother is the one with the immune issues, or the child. Or to throw another spin on things, both.

All of which might make the whole indoor air quality make a bit more sense. If Mom and/or baby are spending a good deal of time inside with unknown quantities of allergens (or perhaps feeling unwell due to the effects of undiagnosed autoimmune disease) perhaps the immune system is the true culprit.