aibu to wonder about this? sorry of i offend but this is only place i feel i can ask

[Chundle]

Ok when me and dd used to attend cdc weekly there was a very high proportion of parents who had issues themselves. So high infact that our key worker said it was nice to have a child in where you didn't have to also manage the parents problems. The parents issues ranged from CP, learning disabilities, alcohol issues, lower than average IQ, attended special schools, no school, etc etc. I personally knew about 20 kids there and out of their parents only myself and two others seem to have average homelifes.

I just wondered how statistically significant it was that the parents seem to all have troubles and so do the kids. None of the parents had issues like ASD it all seemed to be issues that were more caused by environmental factors ifyswim. I really hope this hasn't offended and its been painted in the lights I've intended it to I'm just generally interested. If there is a link I just wonder why it hasn't been spotted sooner and these people been given help sooner tis all

Or thinking maybe they feel its them that needs that cdc help... Maybe I just answered my own question...

Well, any of the semi-hereditary conditions (like ASD / ADHD / Dypraxia / Dyslexia) will naturally have a high % of parents with those conditions.

Could it be you?

What's cdc?

child development centre.

Thanx indigo I did think that but interestingly I didn't see any of them it was more of general learning disabilities, much lower than average IQ and some with CP. Many were also from very very very poor homes not that that makes a difference I don't imagine

IME parents with support needs themselves are more likely to have any issues with their children flagged up sooner than parents without as they're already in the system so to speak and they're more likely to be offered support as other parents will be deemed to be coping.

Add into that that things like learning disabilities, things that affect IQ and conditions that result in a special school being necessary for the parent could well be inherited...

Then yep you end up with a skewed sample.

Thanx tabu that makes sense, many of the kids there had older siblings who had already been through the system as well so I suppose the families are known to the authority. Interesting stuff.

Well second children are much more likely to be picked up anyway...everyone, including parents is more vigilant.

I know I convinced myself that DD had a speech disorder when she was about two, because her speech wasn't very clear I was being hyper vigilant, but if there had been an issue it would have been picked up on much earlier than with my DS.

One older lady Physiotherapist (Paediatric specialist very experienced) that I worked with would often comment that 'the apple didn't fall far from the tree' in relation to kids and their parents.
Of course, the other interesting question is how many of the therapists are there because of their sensory/physical/fine motor/language issues

Haha interestingly wannabe our OT that was at cdc said she had serious sensory issues and had to tailor her life accordingly!! So makes you wonder.
Oh god if the apple doesn't fall far from the tree I'm now questioning myself..... Haha

Oh yeah...I know that feeling of looking in the mirror now and asking how much of my DS is me

My mum says if ADHD was more widely diagnosed 30 years ago she would've had me down the doctors age 3! Although I was on phenagyn to help me sleep for several years..... Hmm... It's all coming out now.... BUT I have a degree and a house and am a (reasonably) good citizen :)

Wasn't there that research recently about HFA/Aspergers that it was more prevalent in households with university educated parents in certain subjects (science/maths/arts) from different regions?
Both DH and I have excellent fine motor skills, visual acuity and reasoning skills that we use (used in my case ) in our careers. DS1 dx dyspraxia - so who knows where that came from.
What I do know is that both sides have nephews with ASD. So if we are looking at genetics, it must go back to grandparents, recessive genes?

I think they showed that children with university educated parents were more likely to get their kids diagnosed earlier, not that there was a true prevalence of HFA/AS amongst professionals. I suspect their children are more likely to get a clear ASD dx than a LD / GDD dx as well.

Alot of conditions have a genetic element. In fact the only two negative comments about DS3 I have had came from people whose first question was whether there was autism in the family. Bit weird as he has two NT older brothers and seemed a bit blunt!

But some conditions will also be due to background / poverty eg foetal alcohol syndrome, babies born to drug addicts etc may well have brain damage.

IMO If you're not a broken parent when you set out, you're very likely to be by the end the agencies have finished with you.

Agree totally star!

You must be in an area where CDC still deals with ASD. In many / most areas that responsibility has now been passsed to CAMHS.

You won't be a broken parent if you become a very angry parent.

Is it because the focus at the CDC is actually ON parents with their own needs? What I mean is is it like a parenting course which tend to be geared towards parents who struggle for one reason or another...?
Mind you I got told to do one and i did it just to show willing and another string to me bow! Ended up practically teaching them haha
And all to no avail; never cured my boys Fragile X Syndrome!!!!

There are some parents at the boys school who clearly have 'issues' but I'd say the %'age is low in comparison to the whole school. So I suppose it depends where you look...