Likelihood of having a child with autism, if my brother is autistic

[Christopher Waclawik]

Hi. I currently have an older brother who is 22 and has severe autism.
I have read that the likelihood of having an autistic child if you have
one is 1 in 20. What is the likelihood of any future kids of mine
having autism if I have an autistic brother? Any other statistical data
about autism rates would be appreciated.

Sincerely,
Chris

[caz]

well I would say there was a pretty good chance, My brother is autistic and
I have 3 children 2 of which are autistic, the one that "got away" was my
daughter, my sister also displays lots of tendancies of Aspergers and I have
a fair share of traits.
I definately believe there is a genetic link, most people I know from ryan
and adams school which is exclusively for autistics have some member of the
family that are autistic or display a huge amount of traits.

I think its more likely if you have a boy, that said however you could also
have normal kids as well

caz

Post by Christopher Waclawik
Hi. I currently have an older brother who is 22 and has severe autism.
I have read that the likelihood of having an autistic child if you have
one is 1 in 20. What is the likelihood of any future kids of mine
having autism if I have an autistic brother? Any other statistical data
about autism rates would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Chris

[James Medhurst]

It depends. Many people with autistic siblings have some mild autistic
traits themselves and, for various reasons, often end up with partners
who are autistic to some degree. In that case, there is a reasonable
chance of having an autistic child. However, if you genuinely and
honestly believe that you are completely non-autistic then there is no
reason why the likelihood should be any greater for than any other
parent. Autism is (almost certainly) not inherited by a recessive gene,
like for example Tay-Sachs or Huntingdon's disease, so you cannot be a
carrier who displays no symptoms. If you have autism genes, these will
be reflected in your personality.

[Chakolate]

Post by James Medhurst
Autism is (almost certainly) not inherited by a recessive gene,
like for example Tay-Sachs or Huntingdon's disease, so you cannot be a
carrier who displays no symptoms. If you have autism genes, these will
be reflected in your personality.

Is this your opinion, or have studies been done? It seems very
reasonable and quite in keeping with my own observations, but I'd be
interested to read the studies if you have any cites.

Chakolate

[James Medhurst]

Is this your opinion, or have studies been done?

Well for one thing, unlike Tay-Sachs and Huntingdon's, it is very
likely that a large number of genes are involved. A recent study at the
Duke University Medical Centre suggests that between ten and a hundred
may be relevant.

http://dukemednews.duke.edu/news/article.php?id=9151

Some of these genes may be recessive, of course, but there are several
reasons to suspect that most of them are dominant, primarily the
results of family studies. It is consistently found that parents of
children with autism show some mild autistic traits themselves, such as
weak central coherence and some problems with social functioning.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11321199&dopt=Abstract

[rapa lucida]

On 25 Aug 2005 04:21:31 -0700, "James Medhurst"

Post by James Medhurst
. It is consistently found that parents of
children with autism show some mild autistic traits themselves, such as
weak central coherence and some problems with social functioning.

'Weak central coherence'

I see the phrase a lot and have a vague idea as to its meaning and can
sort of apply it to myself, but I can't quite pinpoint its meaning
clearly. From an AC perspective what does it mean...?

[James Medhurst]

Post by rapa lucida
'Weak central coherence'
I see the phrase a lot and have a vague idea as to its meaning and can
sort of apply it to myself, but I can't quite pinpoint its meaning
clearly. From an AC perspective what does it mean...?

Basically, it means that people on the autistic spectrum are better at
visually processing details and less good at seeing the 'whole
picture'. This means that we are good at certain tasks, such as fitting
blocks together to form a particular shape, that are difficult for
non-autistic people, but we often miss things that are easy for them to
understand. According to some people, the phenomenon of central
coherence is more general and applies to other things, such as language
processing, as well but IMO the evidence here is much weaker than it is
for visual perception.

[Grand Marshall X King]

Post by James Medhurst

Post by rapa lucida
'Weak central coherence'
I see the phrase a lot and have a vague idea as to its meaning and can
sort of apply it to myself, but I can't quite pinpoint its meaning
clearly. From an AC perspective what does it mean...?

Basically, it means that people on the autistic spectrum are better at
visually processing details and less good at seeing the 'whole
picture'.

no. I'd have to disagree.

we can see the whole picture but it might not be "the whole NT
picture". So many nt concerns are stupid or inconsequential in the long
run.

This means that we are good at certain tasks, such as fitting

Post by James Medhurst
blocks together to form a particular shape, that are difficult for
non-autistic people, but we often miss things that are easy for them to
understand.

I disagree again. We see things they don't. Plain and simple. We just
don't want to be bothered by putting in a huge effort for little
returns...

According to some people, the phenomenon of central

Post by James Medhurst
coherence is more general and applies to other things, such as language
processing, as well but IMO the evidence here is much weaker than it is
for visual perception.

[The autist formerly known as]

Figure it out, your older brother is autistic are you autistic (you do not
say)

It is genetic but the genetics are far from simple, not one gene transmitted
but several have to be and even then the way in which autism manifests is
complex, I don't think anyone has got severity figured out yet.

I would personally figure if I ever had any kids myslef there would be a
fifty fifty chance of there being autistic to some degree.

In other words they either will be or they won't
--
þT

L'autisme c'est moi

"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"

Post by Christopher Waclawik
Hi. I currently have an older brother who is 22 and has severe autism.
I have read that the likelihood of having an autistic child if you have
one is 1 in 20. What is the likelihood of any future kids of mine
having autism if I have an autistic brother? Any other statistical data
about autism rates would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Chris

[PromaBoss]

my girfrends nurse told her the other day

"there is no chance at all of passing on autism "

to me its a big worry,i cant cope with mysefl let alone a kid,even though i
like them[prefer roast beef lol]

but to then have a kid with prolbbems i have i cant imagine how on earth
could i fight to get the support that i cant even fight for mysefl

Post by The autist formerly known as
Figure it out, your older brother is autistic are you autistic (you do not
say)
It is genetic but the genetics are far from simple, not one gene transmitted
but several have to be and even then the way in which autism manifests is
complex, I don't think anyone has got severity figured out yet.
I would personally figure if I ever had any kids myslef there would be a
fifty fifty chance of there being autistic to some degree.
In other words they either will be or they won't
--
þT
L'autisme c'est moi
"Space folds, and folded space bends, and bent folded space contracts and
expands unevenly in every way unconcievable except to someone who does not
believe in the laws of mathematics"

Post by Christopher Waclawik
Hi. I currently have an older brother who is 22 and has severe autism.
I have read that the likelihood of having an autistic child if you have
one is 1 in 20. What is the likelihood of any future kids of mine
having autism if I have an autistic brother? Any other statistical data
about autism rates would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Chris

[Terry Jones]

Post by PromaBoss
my girfrends nurse told her the other day
"there is no chance at all of passing on autism "

If that's the level of understanding then she needs to get a better
informed nurse.

Terry

[Kalen]

Post by PromaBoss
but to then have a kid with prolbbems i have i cant imagine how on earth
could i fight to get the support that i cant even fight for mysefl

I find it rather easier to do such things for others (especially my
children) than for myself.

Kalen

[Kalen]

Post by Christopher Waclawik
Hi. I currently have an older brother who is 22 and has severe autism.
I have read that the likelihood of having an autistic child if you have
one is 1 in 20. What is the likelihood of any future kids of mine
having autism if I have an autistic brother? Any other statistical data
about autism rates would be appreciated.

I am not aware of any studies specifically pinpointing the likelihood of
having an autistic child if your sibling is autistic. My husband and I
are both autistic. My brothers are not, although one has ADHD and other
problems. My daughter with a different father is completely
non-autistic. My husband's daughter with his ex-wife has developmental
problems, but hasn't been dx'd with an autistic spectrum disorder. My
husband and I have two daughters together, one of which appears to have
Asperger Syndrome and one of which is typically developing. If we can
have NT (non-autistic) kids, anyone can.

Kalen

[Kalen]

Post by Kalen
My husband's daughter with his ex-wife has developmental
problems,

That's a son, not a daughter. Brain fart. So many daughters around here...

Kalen