Authored by Jake Mulligan / 3 min read.
Last year, the US government amplified claims that paracetamol use during pregnancy could be linked to autism and ADHD. This prompted widespread media coverage and understandable concern amongst expectant parents, and the autism community. A newly published systematic review and meta-analysis has added important clarity to a debate that flared last year: there is no robust scientific evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy is associated with differences in neurodevelopment, including autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
Following the announcement last year, scientists, autism researchers, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and almost the entire medical community pushed back.
From a scientific perspective, the debunking of Trump’s theory comes as no surprise. From a sociological perspective, the entire ‘argument’ (if we can call it that) raises a different, and equally pressing, question: why do these claims take hold so quickly, and what do they communicate to Autistic people and their communities?
The science is clear, but that’s only half of the story.
The recent review, Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis, carefully prioritised sibling-comparison and family-based studies. These designs help separate shared genetic and environmental factors from any direct effects of paracetamol. Once these methods were applied, previously reported associations became non-significant. Paracetamol itself did not appear to explain differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes.
While the findings of this study address the scientific question, broad statements about paracetamol causing autism carry emotional and ethical implications beyond the data.
Even when the scientific answer is “no link,” the conversations around ‘causes’ of autism still prove to be upsetting and can cause psychological harm to Autistic folks and their families. Claims about prenatal exposures often carry implicit messages: that Autistic lives are preventable or avoidable. OTARC’s Dr Jac den Houting, spoke to the ABC about this:
“In science and in medicine, generally if we are looking for the cause of something, it’s because we want to be able to prevent that something from happening in the future,” they said.
“The majority of the autistic community isn’t interested in being prevented. Our community, which we’ve worked so hard to develop and foster over the last few decades, the thought of that community just slowly ceasing to exist over time – it’s really quite heart-wrenching.”
Why language and narrative matter.
The suggestion of something ‘causing’ autism can reinforce stigma, even when the evidence ultimately shows no causal link. It shifts the focus from inclusion, understanding, and support to blame and playing off people’s fears.
Our Endowed Chair, Professor Dawn Adams has similarly emphasised this in an article by Lab + Life Scientist. The conversation around autism needs to centre around neurodiversity, not deficits.
“Autism is not something that needs treating or to be cured; it’s a neurodevelopmental difference. When we frame it as a condition that needs ‘fixing’, we risk adding to the stigma Autistic people already face. What really makes a difference for Autistic people is the right supports: inclusive classrooms, workplaces that adapt to needs, communities that understand communication and sensory differences, and policies shaped by good-quality research,” Professor Adams said.
From this perspective, the conversations about a ‘paracetamol and autism link’ are less about correlation or causation and more about how society frames autism and neurodivergence. Scientific evidence may answer one question, but it cannot erase the implications of a narrative that positions Autistic lives as something to be avoided.
Paracetamol remains a safe, recommended option for managing pain and fever during pregnancy, and this latest review strengthens the evidence supporting this guidance.
The challenge lies not solely in the science, but in the stories we tell: about autism, about neurodivergent people, and about the kinds of lives society values.
As Professor Adams says, “Autistic people don’t need treatments or cures. They need a world that accepts and values them for who they are.”
Evidence alone cannot answer that – but careful, inclusive, neurodiversity-informed communication can.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
