In The Politics of Autism, I write:

If the science were not confusing enough, its coverage in the mass media has added another layer of murk. News reports hype tentative findings and weak correlations as “breakthroughs” in the quest for autism answers. When the research yields mixed results, the media headlines can be comically inconsistent. Consider how various publications covered a 2013 study on the impact of in vitro fertilization:
RARE IN VITRO TECHNIQUE RAISES AUTISM RISK, STUDY SAYS
IVF PROCEDURES DO NOT BOOST AUTISM RISK
SOME FORMS OF IVF LINKED TO AUTISM, MENTAL DISABILITY
IVF, AUTISM NOT LINKED, BUT STUDY FINDS RISK OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY[i]

From this past week:

Scientists May Have Discovered the Cause of Autism -- Newsweek

Researchers May Have Found the Cause of Autism -- Fox8 in Cleveland

These headlines refer to a recent study of 200 children that found a correlation between levels of a cord blood compound and one measure of autism severity. The study might prove useful, but dozens of other possible causes and correlates have been the subject of peer-reviewed studies (see the list below). So far, scientists have reached two conclusions: genetics has a lot to do with it and vaccines don't. Everything else is tentative.

So headline writers should beware of suggesting that anything other than genetics is the cause of autism.

Inflammatory bowel disease;

Pesticides;

Air pollution and proximity to freeways;

Maternal thyroid issues;

Autoimmune disorders;

Induced labor;

Preterm birth;

Fever;

Birth by cesarean section;

Anesthesia during cesarean sections;

Maternal and paternal obesity;