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Autism
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Can Autism run in families? I have 2 brothers whom each have an autistic grandson - one just diagnosed. I don't have any grandchildren.
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From 2010:
"Family history of an autism spectrum disorder can increase the risk for an autism diagnosis. Autism tends to run in families, and having one autistic child increases the risk of having another: Parents who have one autistic child have a 1 in 20 — or 5 percent — chance of having another child with autism."
"Family history of an autism spectrum disorder can increase the risk for an autism diagnosis. Autism tends to run in families, and having one autistic child increases the risk of having another: Parents who have one autistic child have a 1 in 20 — or 5 percent — chance of having another child with autism."
Yes.
We can trace it back to my grandmother, to my father (her son), down to his children and grandchildren (His first great grand-child was born earlier this week, so we don't know about the next generation).
It expresses in different ways, mostly high-functioning, but in both males and females.
One way or another all our family are probably somewhere on the spectrum. Only a couple of formal diagnoses, but the characteristics are there as soon as you start looking for them.
We can trace it back to my grandmother, to my father (her son), down to his children and grandchildren (His first great grand-child was born earlier this week, so we don't know about the next generation).
It expresses in different ways, mostly high-functioning, but in both males and females.
One way or another all our family are probably somewhere on the spectrum. Only a couple of formal diagnoses, but the characteristics are there as soon as you start looking for them.
One issue – especially for high-functioning – is how useful is a diagnosis?
If individuals have developed strategies that allow them to survive and even thrive in the world of neurotypical people, then what benefit is there in getting a diagnosis?
A diagnosis helps when the individual needs support from school, the healthcare system, or perhaps with an employer, since these organisations tend to require a piece of official paper before they can provide any form of support.
If you don't need to access support, such as in a parenting situation, the diagnosis can be counter-productive, because some healthcare professionals have wrong ideas about autism.
A friend of ours who has a son diagnosed on the autistic spectrum has a female chocolate Labrador. She had some puppies, and these were offered to a special school in case they needed dogs/puppies to help the children.
Autistic children often find they relate better to animals than they do to humans.
She was told that the puppies were not wanted, because autistic children do not want puppies that are brown, but would only accept golden labradors.
In this case (we think), the person who gave the decision had a very limited experience of autism, and was not aware that there is a preference for specific colours and textures,but that not all autistic people have the same preferences.
If individuals have developed strategies that allow them to survive and even thrive in the world of neurotypical people, then what benefit is there in getting a diagnosis?
A diagnosis helps when the individual needs support from school, the healthcare system, or perhaps with an employer, since these organisations tend to require a piece of official paper before they can provide any form of support.
If you don't need to access support, such as in a parenting situation, the diagnosis can be counter-productive, because some healthcare professionals have wrong ideas about autism.
A friend of ours who has a son diagnosed on the autistic spectrum has a female chocolate Labrador. She had some puppies, and these were offered to a special school in case they needed dogs/puppies to help the children.
Autistic children often find they relate better to animals than they do to humans.
She was told that the puppies were not wanted, because autistic children do not want puppies that are brown, but would only accept golden labradors.
In this case (we think), the person who gave the decision had a very limited experience of autism, and was not aware that there is a preference for specific colours and textures,but that not all autistic people have the same preferences.
Very good points made above, especially about whether a diagnosis is helpful (which obviously it is if you need certain agencies on board) but otherwise you tend to just know.
Each of us will have our own experiences good and bad with this, but I always say I'm glad they (my Grandchildren) came to us.
Each of us will have our own experiences good and bad with this, but I always say I'm glad they (my Grandchildren) came to us.
Your answer was provide in a single word on the first response on this thread.
However, as example, I'll point out that when I was discussing my own high-functioning autism with a psychiatrist, I described my father to him. I also described his brother. (My father was always a rather distant figure, obsessive about numbers. My uncle largely withdrew from normal society for many years, so that he could concentrate on winning major chess tournaments). I suggested that they too might also have been on the autism spectrum. The psychiatrist's response was "No doubt about it. Absolutely classic hereditary autism".
However, as example, I'll point out that when I was discussing my own high-functioning autism with a psychiatrist, I described my father to him. I also described his brother. (My father was always a rather distant figure, obsessive about numbers. My uncle largely withdrew from normal society for many years, so that he could concentrate on winning major chess tournaments). I suggested that they too might also have been on the autism spectrum. The psychiatrist's response was "No doubt about it. Absolutely classic hereditary autism".
IJKLM - I agree 100%. My son is autistic. He was diagnosed but I was advised to not get get him statemented as he was high functioning. In his opinion statementing a young child can be an excuse for bad behaviour. On his advice we had to learn the difference between naughty and autistic. It was actually much easier than I thought it would be.
He's 20 now and studying history at uni. He knows he's a little bit different but not enough for it to stand out.
I do believe that I would have been diagnosed as the same as a child.
He's 20 now and studying history at uni. He knows he's a little bit different but not enough for it to stand out.
I do believe that I would have been diagnosed as the same as a child.
And Chris....I think my grandad was also autistic. His obsessions were quite amusing. My nan was a great cook but my grandad would only eat KFC or Chinese takeaway. Every single day.
He was a publican and I had to bring him up a till reading on the hour. I would be sitting in the living room doing my homework and he'd give me a nudge at 7.59 so I could get downstairs for 8.
He was a publican and I had to bring him up a till reading on the hour. I would be sitting in the living room doing my homework and he'd give me a nudge at 7.59 so I could get downstairs for 8.
The psychiatrist asked me if I wanted her to give me a formal diagnosis. I said no she said at 53 as I was at the time there was no point at all. When I was growing up I was just seen as a very bright but unsociable child who was a bit OCD about colours and sorting things out. I learned the act of normality as I grew older but am still a bit odd. Can't do hugs very well, Dave said he felt I counted seconds til I pulled away, he was right. 4 seconds was about what I could cope with. Still can't do very noisy busy places well, but Funnily enough I love fireworks, the beauty and colour distracts be from the noise
Similar stories here.
After our daughter was diagnosed, we took her to a therapy group with a psychologist aimed at teens with spectrum-related issues. It helped her a lot. However, part of the commitment was that the parents would meet once a month or so.
One has to be honest, some of the parents were... out of the ordinary.
I remember surprising people by acknowledging my own weirdness and, in fact, celebrating it.
I am happy and proud to be a bit weird. It's only through weirdness that things advance.
It's not uncommon for people to be embarrassed or ashamed of being a bit different. It might take years, but accepting the advantages of being different is one of the keys to peace of mind (to echo another thread).
I'd just like to add, that as our children went through school, some of the teachers understood them and 'got' them and loved them very much for their different takes on life and learning and their ability to ask often-challenging questions.
Others saw them as naughty and disruptive, for precisely the same reasons.
If I had advice to offer it would be for parents to seek out schools, teachers, youth workers and others who fall into the first group, irrespective of what OFSTED, other parents or the local grapevine might say.
After our daughter was diagnosed, we took her to a therapy group with a psychologist aimed at teens with spectrum-related issues. It helped her a lot. However, part of the commitment was that the parents would meet once a month or so.
One has to be honest, some of the parents were... out of the ordinary.
I remember surprising people by acknowledging my own weirdness and, in fact, celebrating it.
I am happy and proud to be a bit weird. It's only through weirdness that things advance.
It's not uncommon for people to be embarrassed or ashamed of being a bit different. It might take years, but accepting the advantages of being different is one of the keys to peace of mind (to echo another thread).
I'd just like to add, that as our children went through school, some of the teachers understood them and 'got' them and loved them very much for their different takes on life and learning and their ability to ask often-challenging questions.
Others saw them as naughty and disruptive, for precisely the same reasons.
If I had advice to offer it would be for parents to seek out schools, teachers, youth workers and others who fall into the first group, irrespective of what OFSTED, other parents or the local grapevine might say.
