ASD / Autism - What do you think caused it in your family?

[Wanderingthoughts]

Inspired by my own experience and talking to two friends who's children are autistic.

My DS, 8, diagnosed ASD (formerly Aspergers, geeky-intelligent type). I think comes from his father (my ex). Their ASD traits are very similar and I think his father would definitely be diagnosed. DS also has ADHD which I think comes from me (I have lots of traits) and this is his primary diagnosis and much more prominent. So in our case, I lean towards genetic, although I was anaemic during pregnancy, had a low lying placenta and DS was born via induction and ventouse.

I'm pregnant with DC2, this time a girl, and my current DP has no ASD traits, and none I can see from anyone in his family. I am, however, anaemic again and this time facing having an iron infusion as the tablets haven't worked. I've read some research that low iron in pregnancy can be a potential cause of autism.

My friend has a 3 children, only one (DS2) is diagnosed Autistic. He has a more classical presentation, non-verbal, developmentally delayed and requiring a special school. She feels his autism comes from a long and traumatic birth, and she has no family history of ASD.

Ditto for another friend, she also has 3 children, and her DS1 is both Autistic and has learning difficulties. Her other two children are unaffected. Similar to my first friend, she thinks the cause of his autism was a long and difficult labour and birth trauma. No family history of ASD, although I can see some ASD traits in her DH!

What do you think the cause, if any, in your personal family experience?

Everyone says genetic but I don't see it in my family.

Genetics - my nephew is severely autistic and although his dad, my DB, isn’t diagnosed, he has traits. My own son is autistic and again, I have traits. Our father also.

So what about the autistic children who are not lucky enough to be ‘geeky’

is that genetic too?

if it is genetic why can’t they discover the genomes

My dad 😂

I've had a traumatic induced hospital birth and the loveliest drug free home water birth, at similar gestations and to babies who weighed 2oz difference and they've both got ASD.

Those just saying ‘genetic’ are you saying that because others in your family have autism/asd traits or because even if there is absolutely no one else you think genes are the main cause?

What is that saying about its genes plus response to environmental factors. Both equate to autism, one only won’t. ‘Genes load the gun, environmental factors pull the trigger.’ But who knows. It’s very difficult when you can’t see it elsewhere in anyone else in the family and there’s no obvious reason.

DH says stress during pregnancy but I’m not sure about that really.

so those who have autism who are not geeky how about them?

My sons severe autism and learning disabilities is caused by a chromosome deletion,so it's genetic but not inherited although there is autism in my wider family ,ie.My cousins child, there are not lots of family members with autism

Genetic and hereditary are connected but separate things.

When autism is described as genetic people often include hereditary factors, but genetic means that it’s a condition involving the cells of a gene, so the way the gene was created from conception.

Often autism does have significant hereditary factors but it can often be standalone changes in just one family member.

ASD / Autism - What do you think caused it in your family?

This question makes me angry. Caused it? Bloody caused it? I don't have a disease, I'm autistic. What 'caused' it was having autistic parents. It's in the genes.

Genetic. I can see it all over our family.

Anecdotally, every autistic person I've ever been friends with, as soon as I meet their parents it is obvious to me who they've inherited it from.

As I said above DH definitely had it, it was a revelation to him to find out in his 40s that there was a reason his thought processes were at odds with others. His dad is just the same. I'm not the only person in the family to notice it.

Genetics. I can see it on both sides of my family.

I was going to say this.

My autistic child and NT child weren't big babies (one just shy of 9lb and the other a few ounces over 9.5lb), both inductions, second actually a lot more difficult - and he's the NT one.

It isn't anything to do with pregnancy, low iron, environmental factors... He is autistic because I am, and his father, although not diagnosed, definitely has traits.

I have DS (3) who is ASD non verbal and awaiting genetic tests. I almost have DD (2) who appears completely NT.

Had HG in both pregnancies and low iron/anaemia but both were worse with DS. Ended up with an iron infusion around 32 weeks then got cholastasis so he was induced at 37 weeks.

Hubby is definitely on the spectrum in the insanely intelligent way and since going through the process with DS I've realised I probably am too; although less clearly than DH.

I'm going to honest. We would LOVE a ‘geeky’ type. Our DS is a mess in many ways. Non verbal, no understanding of what’s being said, massive emotional outbursts and constant physical issues. It feels like we have ended up with the worst type of autism and it’s killing our family.

*also

Agree with this.

Also this but I had no idea how to word it without swearing and getting a weeks ban so thanks

All the kids I know with autism, you can clearly see that they have an autistic parent and/or grandparent, aunt, uncle. ADHD seems to run in families too. I have a DC with it and can clearly see that it comes from DH's side of the family.

Can I ask how you discovered it was chromosome deletion? Is that the fragile x genetic test?

Genetics, but I do wonder if it can be triggered in some people by something like a birth trauma, and may otherwise have been dormant. I guess this makes sense to me in relation to my eldest son (severe asd, severe LD).

I wonder how if it’s inherited how the genetics played out that way.

Have you managed to ask anyone in health about it?

Exactly. I don't think the OP realises how insulting that phrasing is so I've answered in the hopes that they posted in good faith and stop looking for a reason to "blame" for autism and realise it isn't anything anyone has done "wrong".
I had a feeling at least one of mine would be autistic, before his diagnosis I was asked why I suspected it, one of the main reasons was his behaviours and a lot of the things he does are like me.

without swearing and getting a weeks ban so thanks

I've been MNing for 10 years and never had a week's ban for swearing. Is this a thing?

Genetics for us.

I’ve a DC diagnosed with ASD, another waiting for a neurodiversity assessment, my sibling has a couple of autistic DC, and I see a lot of autistic traits in both my and DH’s close relatives.

Genetics. Not a shadow of a doubt.