Irish neurodiversity and healthcare professionals are rejecting claims by U.S. president Donald Trump, who suggested that paracetamol use during pregnancy may increase the risk of autism in children.
There is no credible scientific evidence to support the statement, which has drawn criticism from international experts, including paediatric occupational therapist Adam Griffin.
Griffin, who has over 14 years’ experience in child and adolescent mental health and works across the Middle East, described the remarks as “deeply harmful.”
“This kind of misinformation shapes how people think, talk and respond to neurodivergent individuals,” Griffin emphasised. “Instead of recognising autism as a difference in how someone experiences and interacts with the world, it reinforces outdated ideas of deficit or disorder.”
The Health Products Regulatory Authority said paracetamol is “an important treatment option for the management of fever and pain in pregnancy,” and that “available evidence does not link its use to causing autism in children.”
The European Medicines Agency said evidence of any connection remains “inconsistent” and cautioned against drawing conclusions. In Ireland, the HSÉ continues to advise that paracetamol is safe during pregnancy when used as directed and for the shortest necessary time.
Griffin stated comments like Trump’s can have emotional and social consequences for families already navigating complex challenges.
“Families often feel a real sense of confusion, frustration, and hurt when public figures make sweeping or inaccurate comments about autism,” he said. “These statements tend to attract a lot of media attention, but they rarely include the nuance or context that real families live with every day.”
“For young people, it can increase feelings of shame or being misunderstood, and parents often worry about how others might now see or treat their child.”
Griffin highlighted that such misinformation adds pressure to families already under strain.
“It’s a reminder that words carry real weight, and that respectful, informed discussion is vital for the wellbeing and inclusion of neurodivergent individuals and their families,” he said. One of the most persistent myths, according to Griffin, is the idea that autistic people are somehow broken or difficult.
“A common misconception is that autism is something ‘other,’ that an autistic child is unrelatable, broken, or so different they are ‘not like other children.’ This sense of isolation is deeply felt by many neurodivergent individuals,” he said.
“In the words of Temple Grandin, autistic people are ‘bright, not broken.’ An analogy I often use is that autism is like a different operating system in an electronic device. It’s not broken, it’s Apple, not Android. It uses a different software to function, and the better we understand that system, the better we can support it.”
He warned that high-profile comments without scientific backing can be particularly harmful.
“What’s often more dangerous is when such statements contain elements of truth or connect tangentially to new treatment ideas but lack the proper context or evidence,” he said. “They can appear science-based without the rigour to back them up. These ‘half-truths’ can be even more harmful than outright falsehoods.”
Griffin urged families not to panic and to seek evidence-based guidance.
“My advice is to ground decisions in reliable, evidence-based information and to seek guidance from trusted professionals,” he said. “Families should remember that autism is a lived experience, not a single story, and there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.”
He also called on professionals and media to play their part in pushing back against false narratives.
“We need more voices from the autistic community, more context, and more clarity. For professionals, families, and the media alike, the focus should be on fostering informed dialogue that respects lived experience and prioritises evidence over sensationalism.”
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