Can autism occur from lack of oxygen at birth?

My older brother has severe autism. Though he may look normal and he can walk etc. his intellectual capacity is that of a toddler and he has to be constantly supervised etc.
I dont know why my brother has autism but I once overheard my mother telling an aunt that it happened due to problems during birth.
He was born by C-Section and that apparently the doctor arrived 40 minutes late and that he didnt get enough oxygen during birth.

Could this cause autism?
I dont wish to ask my mother so as to not get her upset.

Thanks

Sorry I should have added:
I looked it online and wikipedia listed hypoxia at birth as a cause but the detailed info was beyond my comprehension lol

Any difficult birth can result in autism. There is a definite correlation between autism and the following:

Premature birth
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles...

Caesarean birth
http://www.wombecology.com/caesareans.ht...

Being born a twin
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/194932...

Genetics may be involved, but only to the extent that a child may have a predisposition to autism. In other words, not all difficult births result in autism, and not all autistics endured difficult births; but the correlation is undeniable.

Incidentally, in response to "C:" I think you can assume that the one who needed oxygen was the one with the more difficult birth. First came the extra difficult birth, and the oxygen came next. But it is difficult birth, rather than the oxygen, that is statistically linked to autism.

no it's genetic

Lack of oxygen at birth causes cerebal palsy. I don't think they know what causes autism.

dont think so
the website below tells you causes and symptons of autism

I don't believe that lack of oxygen has anything to
do with Autism. The mmr shot is one thing that
has been under suspicion though.

As the research has been done so far, no that doesnt cause autism and they are not sure what does but they have been narrowing it down from what DOESNT cause it. So far it has been traced to be something with ur genes.

no its not the reason it may be part of it though

I don't know if lack of oxygen causes autism but I'd bet it doesn't help! I have a kid with autism and he got into distress twice before they finally did a C-section to get him out. What this distress was who knows, I've never been permitted to see the info. I have it as part of the cause.

My twins were premature, delivered c-section, and one was deprived of oxygen for a few minutes during delivery.

They are both on the spectrum but the one who was oxygen deprived is more severly affected by autism.

He was given oxygen for approx an hour after birth and someone once said giving newborns oxygen can be very bad for their brain.

I don't know what they are currently blaming autism on, but I know that it changes and everyone seems to have a different opinion.

I also have a son who has high-functioning autism. I have always believed that his autism was caused by him experiencing a lack of oxygen at birth (hypoxia). I personally believe that he experienced frontal lobe damage. Unfortunately, like one of the previous posters, I have never been able to read the files from his birth!

No one knows for sure what causes autism so it is always a possibility!!

You know hun - if they only truly knew. From all I have read there are many reasons. I encourage you to speak to your family - you seem like you love your brother and having an interest in him is what is important.

What is hard is that everyone experiences autism in a unique way (with the cause and the effects)

There is a part me that wants to understand why but it is important for me not to soley focus on that as a parent.

I think all the different so called causes and speculations of
"causes" has created a very factioned effort in dealing with it.

If I can make my childs life better in anyway I am going to do that - and that should be the focus. What works for one doesn't necessarily work for another. What caused it or the catalyst that brought is on seems to be different for as many as the same.

I hope you can find some answers for yourself.

hopeezinetoday.com has links to a number of sites and articles and treatments.

Best Wishes

Well you can have autism like symptoms, but not Classic autism or Aspergers.

You would have to ask your mother this. When he was born, did his medical records say anything to indicate that he was anything but a normal baby. Autism is not usually something you have from birth, and specially from lack of oxygen, which would just leave you brain damaged.

My son has sever autism and he was born normal by all accounts and I have his birth records to probe it.

Just a thought, perhaps if he suffered from lack of oxygen at birth, maybe he could benefit from Hyperbatic Oxygen Therapy.

I have a son with autism and after 21 hours of labor and about 3 incidents where my son's heart beat went down, the doctors rushed me to an operation table to have the baby be born by C-section. I don't know if this was a cause, if it made it worse or if it's unrelated to this problem at all.
I try not to search too much for causes unless they can help me find help for my child. I am focusing more on solutions and care for my boy.