If you had one SEN DC

[user24197]

Did any of your subsequent children also have SEN?

My dc is autistic and I'm just interested to know if it is likely my next will also have it. I'm not sure how much genetics actually does contribute so looking for responses from others..

DC 1 & 2 neurotypical, DC 3&4 neurodiverse (Aspergers Syndrome diagnosed for DC 3 then 5 years later with DC4 I was told just ASD) DC 5 &6 neurotypical. DC7 suspected ASD but still to young to confirm. I suspect I am neurodiverse (ADHD) but undiagnosed, husband neurotypical. 100% believe it is genetic.

Ds1 is NT
Ds2 has asd/adhd
Ds3 is NT.
Ds1 has a different father to ds2 and 3.
I suspect their father has asd. He point blank refused to accept it might be a possibility. He doesn't see his children, and hasn't since ds2 was just under 2 and I was pregnant with ds3.

Dd1 has an asd diagnosis, and as far as we can tell at the moment her younger sister is NT. My niece also has a diagnosis and I (and my stepmum) are convinced my dad is autistic, my brother is dyslexic and dyspraxic. DPs sister has some sort of social communication disorder although no formal diagnosis. There is a very strong genetic link.

My brother seems to have made a pasttime of amateur diagnosing everyone in the family though, and I have to keep getting annoyed at him- I'm not autistic, have done a million assessments and score nowhere near needing a referral. I might have some ADHD traits but have not found it a struggle so far so don't need the additional stress of seeking an assessment in my life.

Neither DH nor I are autistic.

Both DS are.

I have some cousins who are likely autistic.

My DH has some relatives who I would be stunned if they weren’t.

DS1 NT
DS2 Adhd + seizures
DD2 going to have her assessed

but with DS2, I was pregnant when living and working near an old plant that was churning out awful particulates from the process. Our environmental department refused to release the data. Our office was in what the plant locals called the ‘dead zone’. I’m convinced there is a link there for at least part of his afflictions.

H probably has Adhd but is too lazy to get diagnosed even if it meant he could become a better person/father/whatever as he could learn strategies to help himself perhaps. Oh well.

I have two children who are autistic, but myself and their father are also ND.

My best friends three kids all have asd. The third is the most impacted by it. Neither parent has a dx but both are 40 and id say if they went through the process theyd both probably get one for adhd.

Other than genetics, what is the other likely cause?

With my DS I had an extremely traumatic birth. Induced early when realistically didn't need to be, it felt very forced. I truly don't believe he was ready to be born at that time. The labour was long, I had so much medication that I barely remember a lot of it etc. Then ended up with him becoming very distressed and an EMCS after failed forceps. Could this have really played a part?

Not sure tbh.

DS1 is autistic and DS2 has never been diagnosed with anything but I suspect he has ADHD. He is the easier of the two and sails along at school/activities/social events etc. My two are literally the epitome of chalk and cheese even down to their looks.

I have quite a few friends with only one SEN child.

But I think you have to prepare for it.

Don’t blame yourself I highly doubt that it’s in any way related to that. He was destined to be the DS he is the moment he was conceived tbh, neurodiversities are unlikely to be environmental

I do wonder this about DS1. He was stuck in the birth canal for ages and had the cord round his neck acting like a noose. I had CFM and heard his heart rate dropping ridiculously low at times. He was blue and floppy when born. Whenever I've raised this the only question. They've asked was "Did he need the resuscitaire?" (He didn't) and then they move on. So really no-one knows and paeds have basically said that the reason "why" doesn't matter. (I disagree)

My DSD doesn't have any SEN. DD1 is autistic and dyslexic, and dd2 is dyslexic. DH is also dyslexic and probably has undiagnosed ADHD. I don't have any SEN. My 5 year old nephew quite possibly has autism (awaiting assessment). So we think that autism comes from my side and dyslexia from DH's side. DD1 was just unfortunate to have ended up with both.

Same

Dd1 has severe ASD and learning difficulties.

Dd2 has Asperger’s (as it was when she was diagnosed)

Ds has moderate ASD (since the definitions had changed by the time he was going through diagnosis; he is the absolute double of dd2).

of course, the actual labels don’t really paint the full picture. Dd1 would not be dx’d as severe ASD if she was going through the process today. Dd2 and ds are both a lot more affected by their ASD than the general world expects - they are both in mainstream, coping for the most part with no particular adjustments (except small class sizes and patience/understanding)

DSD on asd pathway.
Dd1 (from previous) Asd and dyslexia.

Ds asd and pda diagnosis. We suspect adhd awaiting assessment. He also had ARFID. I also think he's dyslexic.

Dd2 global development delay, asd, serve speech delay

Ds and dd2 we share. Dd2 has had genetic testing. But so far nothing that indicates a genetic reasoning

3 out of 4 of my children are ND.

DC1 age 12 has been given no diagnosis twice. But he definitely has ASD which has only become more and more noticeable as he’s got older. But I’m talking to a brick wall when I try and speak to professionals. SENCO gaslit him in to agreeing that he has friends when he doesn’t!

DC2 age 10 was diagnosed when he was 3 years old. He has high functioning Autism with moderate learning difficulties.

DC3 age 8 is NT.

DC4 age 4 is currently being assessed for ASD. She has multiple meltdowns every day and is easily overwhelmed and distressed just to give a vague idea without details.

I think it can definitely run in families. But also it can seemingly “skip” children too. As is the case with my DC3. I genuinely believe I have Autism, so that probably greatly increases the chances.

My eldest has ADHD his three younger siblings are NT. DH and I are both NT but SEN does run on his side of the family.

@SamiaLee1984 woweee, you do know how the edit button works don't you?

Well she got it from somewhere so one or both of you are autistic and don’t have a diagnosis. Your other children will have some level of autism as well as it’s a spectrum but may have it better or worse

Second child is more likely to have Asd too than random child is x

I don't know about traumatic birth. DD1 was also a EMCS after failed forceps, but her apgar scores after birth were good even though her heart rate dropped just before the EMCS. DD2 is neurotypical and I had another EMCS following failed ventouse with her. Please don't blame yourself.

DS was 6 weeks premature which is a likely contributing factor in his case.

Yep, all 3 of mine are SEN

I do suspect dd2 may have a explanation to some extent of her birth.

She was born blue, resuscitated at birth. Cord around her neck twice. Quick labour. No labour history in sense of heart beat as they couldn't find one and no time to get me on a actual monitor.

Had to have antibiotics as she had opened her bowels and I tested positive for gestational diabetes very late (l when I was having her)

In reality we don't know how long she was starved of oxygen. She was born just before covid lock down. And was plenty of missed opportunities to pick anything up with her in the early days.. first time she saw a health visitor was at 2 years old.
Interestingly no one has been able to track down any discharge paperwork for her. In all sense and purposes she was never formally discharged as our paediatrician wanted more information relating to her birth. But there just isn't any.

My eldest has autism, my youngest doesn't. No family history known or suspected on either side.