Autism more likely in the children of two highly analytical people, expert argues

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article here

Thabks Saker- that's interesting about the CHAT test, I think it goves too many false negatives (ie plenty of people who pass it are autistic), but anyone who fails it seems (ime) to have something up, if not autism.

Bollocks about one person having maths ability (why do lecturers say that sort of stuff). This is a maths illiterate household.

I'm not sure that this theory really applies to us either tbh. Dh is interested in science and has a degree in IT but I am pretty useless at anything remotely scientific. Dh can do complicated equations in his head but can't seem to do the simple stuff. I'm fairly average at maths and never really liked the subject.

My side of the family has several people who I would consider to have AS/ASD but none of them are remotely scientific or interested in engineering. The only person in my family who actually likes maths is my NT sister.

I suppose all he's saying is that there is a higher chance of a child with autism having a parent with some of those qualities or attributes, not that it applies to all children with autism or that it isn't possible for two mathematicians to have an NT child.

Still think that only applies to children who are very very high functioning (ime).

Does 'scatty' come into it?! (me!). DH very organised and a researcher.
We have ADHD, alcoholism, anorexia, depression and learning difficulties in our family.

And agoraphobia

Same as Coppertop - don't think it applies to us - I did English at university, DH did history, neither of us is particularly scientific although DH is quite numerate.

I think it is very interesting. DH studied Physics at Imperial College more than 20 years ago, and of the people he has kept in touch with since from his year (a group of about a dozen or so) three are parents of children with Aspergers -- and those are just the ones we still know, iyswim. I did science A levels too. However neither DH nor me have any autistic spectrum characteristics, DS is a borderline case.

I think it is very interesting. DH studied Physics at Imperial College more than 20 years ago, and of the people he has kept in touch with since from his year (a group of about a dozen or so) three are parents of children with Aspergers -- and those are just the ones we still know, iyswim. I did science A levels too. However neither DH nor me have any autistic spectrum characteristics, DS is a borderline case.

I think it is very interesting. DH studied Physics at Imperial College more than 20 years ago, and of the people he has kept in touch with since from his year (a group of about a dozen or so) three are parents of children with Aspergers -- and those are just the ones we still know, iyswim. I did science A levels too. However neither DH nor me have any autistic spectrum characteristics, DS is a borderline case.

oops sorry don't know how that happened

Well, we can discuss this theory among ourselves, who are obviously literate, have the use and financially ability to buy computers. What about the rates of autism among the illiterate or low IQ population? What of those who live in caravan camps or trailer parks? Having just completed a course of workshops through a local charity, i didnt come across anyone who appeared to be particularly "cerebral" in any way. The moms and dads were working class, most were unemployed and none had gone to university. one was working for the DHSS but didnt have 3rd level education.

They all came from poorer areas. I think if you go looking for correlations, you will find them, particularly if you are looking in your own social/economic groups.

I think this theory appeals to many people because it takes the "edge" off of autism. Is autism the result of "intelligent" parents? Maybe some would like to think that, might make them feel better that their child is a result of their own higher IQ, but I doubt it. This theory is like the "einstein" theory in a way and to me just dosent hold water.

If autism is higher in California, it could be due to the extensive pollution, toxins in their atmosphere. Ever been to L.A. on a july afternoon? What kind of crap is being spewed out by the hundreds of warehouses, think tanks and industrial towers in California? How come the Amish have been reported to have very low levels of autism? Yet, those Amish communities living close to Detroit and other big cities are seeing increased levels.

Again, this theory is harping back to the "its the parents genes" again. I think our kids may be genetically pre-disposed to autism due to the generations of crap in our world that we have ingested and perhaps passed on. What actually causes autism to show its ugly head is in my opinion an environmental trigger, sort of like the straw that broke the camels back. A vaccination, a smoking mother, lead in the water, aluminium in baby formula, who knows. But i can bet that autism is just as high among the poor uneducated communites of south carolina or Birmingham just as much as it is in the Silicon Valley. You can find the stats on the internet. I lost them but i have seen them. by the way, Scotland (Glasgow) and Essex have very high rates of autism for some reason. And, there is a place in the U.S. where autism rates are 1 in 10.

Brick Township, New Jersey, USA autism rates are one in 10.

i completely agree with mama and i also think you should stop looking 4 the causes of autism leave it to the proffesionals thats what they are their for what ever the cause our kids have got it for life nothing can change that and put some of the energy you use for the research in to your child.

This was just a discussion about something that an autism expert had published.

Well it does have some relevance to all of us because SBC's work is centred around the idea of it being an extreme form of the male brain (which again I tend to think is only true for very HFA), which ties in with this, but alos ties into testosterone levels in the womb etc.

It also has relevance because I think this type of media report actually waters down the public understanding of autism, so they end up thinking we're all a bit autistic, or someone who is autistic is just someone whos is a bit eccentric.

It's an interesting discussion (which I why I come to mumsnet), it makes no difference to how much time I put into helping my son, and I found SBC's comments on the CHAT test very interesting.

my personal view is not to take any notice of it untill some proof comes through that is 100% reliable.untill then there will allways be proffesionals with their views ranging from mercury in injections up to enviromental factors.

I don't see how you can decide whether someone is 'cerebral' based on their socio-economic status or whether they've been to university! It's also a mistake to assume that everyone on here is from a similar background.

I agree that this research is certainly worth discussing. If all I had in my life was non-stop speech therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, PECS symbols and IEP targets (x2) I would be climbing the walls by now.

I think you will send your self mad trying to research how our children got autism there are so many different roads to go down,i did send my self mad over it 4 months after my son got diagnosed i was doing all the reaserching into it whos to blame was it any vaccinations is their any other links either sides of our family,in the end my doctor diagnosed me with severe depression. so all im trying to say is yes they are autistic,whats it down to we dont know,so why waste energy and emotions in to it when even the proffesionals dont know. im sorry if i affended any body with my views but it did send me mad going over the causes.

I don't personally try to look for reasons why my two boys are autistic. It's just the way they were born. It would probably be dfferent if I thought it had been triggered by something specific. I just find it interesting to read and discuss the links that people post on the SN board, whether it's about something that affects me personally (eg autism) or something I'd just like to learn more about (eg the different syndromes/conditions that other parents on here have experience of).

"I also think you should stop looking 4 the causes of autism leave it to the proffesionals thats what they are their for"... Nicolajc, i disagree with this wholeheartedly. I dont know exactly what a "professional" autism researcher is to begin with. Similarly "professionals" and "experts" are not who i have turned to, to help my son, in fact they have on the whole, been unhelpful, obstreperous (sp) and downright insulting to my attempts to help my child.

I really do think its going to be a parent who discovers the "cause" of autism, and even the means to "recover" from it. There is no political "will" to find out a cause for autism, not yet anyway. There is certainly very little support mirrored in the community, eg social services, educational bodies, etc. Its a struggle and a battle the whole way along. There is an entrenched belief that autism is genetic (despite the fact no gene has been found!) Just like ABA being viewed as voodoo (at least in my part of the world) Autism is still viewed as a "mystery" rather than a puzzle. Our kids are sick because they "have" autism. My child dosent "have" autism, yet doctors still allude to autism as a malady, as a "sickness". Thus, in terms of leaving it to the professionals, well, many "professionals" have attempted to ameliorate the effects of autism and study it, and have even come up with direct correlations between toxic levels and autism. What happens to these "professionals"? Andrew Wakefield was ostracised, castigated, etc. A doctor who used to work for Westminster University in the 80's who was helping autistic children with vitamins had his clinic unceremoniously pulled from under him. There are doctors who you will never know the names of, who have tried within the NHS to help children via biomedical intervention. They have been sued and ridiculed. I know of at least one, and that particular person knows of five others.

I have a DAN doctor (Defeat Autism Now) in the U.S. and i also have a DAN nutritionist in the U.K. Both of these professionals have been ridiculed in a roundabout way by my son's paediatrician (who thinks he knows it all) and my sons GP who knows absolutely nothing about ASD. So, in terms of "professionals" shedding some light on autism, i wouldnt hold my breath.

I do want to find out what caused my son's autism, i want to know very badly. Because when i find out, then maybe i will have some road to take to recovering him. If you get cancer from asbestos, well then you stay away from asbestos in the future. If you are killing your liver from too much alcohol, you should stay away from alcohol. No one can PROVE without a doubt that autism is UNCURABLE. We just dont have the data. We dont have hundreds and thousands of adult autists to base any thing on. where are all the special schools that these adults would have gone to school at? Why are our schools now folding due to pressure from special needs kids?? Something is happening today, causing our kids to develop autism. If I have more children, i CERTAINLY want to know what caused autism in my first child to prevent it happening in another child.

Mostly, it blinds me with tears to know that during the time it took to write this, 2 more children were diagnosed with autism. Two more parents being hurled into a world they didnt choose. Of COURSE we need to know where autism is coming from. Globally its the top priority. Personally, we can work on recovering our kids, but finding the cause deserves all we can give it. Its parents who are left to deal with the aftermath of diagnosis and severe lack of research or even blind studies on autism and non autistic kids makes me believe that it will be a parent who discovers what is really going on. We are at the front line, not the doctors, who really dont give a damn in my estimation.

I think you need to deal with your childs autism the way that suits you, I don't look for reasons usually (though I do sometimes question things like birthe xperience) but I have total empathy with those that need to approach it this way and yes, I suspect it will be a parent who makes the biggest jumps- though I'm not convinced of a cure, a treatment maybe one day when they can rebuild neral pathways chemically or whatever.

SN is a trauma / journey unique to each family and each family needs to be able to explore it in their own unique way.

Im in the uk and my son goes to a special school the school only take children on who have ASD every one in the school right up from the head down to the cleaners understand autism and how to control,support and talk to these children. 3 weeks ago my son broke his leg and the doctors and nurses had no clue on how to handle him i dont think it matters how educated you may be if others dont understand autism then thats their own ignorance. The school and courses i have been on have prooved to be great support 4 us,yes i am very lucky with my family they are also very supporting but the people i have met through my sons school including the speech therapist his teachers plus many others have gave us very valuable advice and with out them we wouldnt have got as far as we have with our son we have a great support network around us.There are studies going on about what causes autism my sons doctor has told us and some of the results coming out is that their brain is wired up a differnt way to ours,just because you dont hear or know of these research it doesnt mean to say its not going on. me and my partner to want another child and r worried about the next child having ASD, i know plenty of people whose 1st child had ASD there 2nd and 3rd didnt.
I dont beleave putting your life and plans on hold or threating about it what is to be is to be fate is out of your hands you never know whats round the corner.