Poll: If you have a child with Autism or Aspergers...

[Anonymous]

...do you or your spouse also have other family members on the spectrum?

Both my husband's brother and one of his cousins have been diagnosed with Aspergers/Autism. My husband and FIL are both pretty severely ADD. I am currently pregnant with our first son and worry a lot about what problems we may be passing on to him. I know what I'm asking is far from scientific but just curious how common it is to see this sort of thing perpetuated across generations.

[Anonymous]

My uncle and a great-uncle have Asperger's.

My husband's brother is spectrum-y.

[Anonymous]

several men on my husbands side have aspergers.

[Anonymous]

My son has Aspergers, I have Aspergers. My brother and father have ADD (not ADHD). My mother has RA, if anyone is following the Autoimmune influence theory.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I'm a chick, if that matters.

[Anonymous]

No. DD is 1st generation ASD.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Congratulations on your baby. There is a genetic link but not always. I wouldn't worry about what's out of your control. The good thing is that if your kid does show signs of autism, there are lots of resources/therapy now. It's a very different world.

[Anonymous]

DC has aspergers. DH's brother clearly has aspergers.

[Anonymous]

Autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, etc are multifactorial diseases, meaning they have a genetic, hereditary component as well as an environmental component.

In a family where some members are on the spectrum, the non-affected members can carry the genetic propensity without their knowledge and pass it on to future children.

In DH's family, one of his nephews was diagnosed with Asperger's but has loads of other issues, one of them probably ADD, while another nephew is undiagnosed but clearly has ADD and other things, maybe a mild form of high-functioning autism. DH is ADD, as am I. Our son was diagnosed with ADD at a young age but I suspect he also has a form of HFA.

There are also auto-immune disorders on both sides, ranging from serious eczema to Multiple Sclerosis.

[Anonymous]

DC was diagnosed with Asperger's. He's the only one with an official diagnosis.

On my side, my mother, a cousin, and both my brothers probably will qualify for an Asperger's dx. One of my brothers were told by his kids' school that his kids needed an evaluation but refused: it's pretty obvious that they have a lot of spectrumy behaviors too. My niece has an IEP for anxiety. Her father was painfully shy as a child and did not talk at school until quite old.

My husband, his father and brother all will qualify for an AS diagnosis. My DS is a lot like his uncle as a child but not as severe.

All the adults are highly educated professionals with careers despite not having any help in school or a diagnosis. Expect DS to do just as well if not better.

[Anonymous]

There's a theory being worked on that the age of the sperm may be a factor (although clearly hereditary in our family). Can anyone post their DH's age at conception of ASD child? My DH was 40.

[Anonymous]

DS has AS. I count 4 other family members who would clearly qualify for a diagnosis. DH in his early 30s. It was clearly my side of the family. Very strong genetic component in my family.

[Anonymous]

20:23 again. The adults in my family are not doing well at all. Struggle with many things.

[Anonymous]

17:40. DH was 49 when DS was conceived. But in our case, age of sperm is incidental to genetics. DH was conceived when his father was 32. And grandpa's dad was 26 when FIL was born. DH and FIL has the same stims as does DS. They are all really alike although funny enough, they don't even look related in appearance.

They all like to finger posture and they all love word play: all ridiculously verbal although dad and grandpa are also very very good in math and I suspect DS will be although maybe not a math prodigy like my mother and one brother.

Now if DS can master tying his shoes... And talk more in class, I'll be happy.

[Anonymous]

Maybe some spectrummy folks. We fit the profile of the people in Baron-Cohen's study-lots of family members in science, math or engineering.