I'm New, wondering if runs in families?
Find a Conversation
| Thu, 01-31-2008 - 8:33pm |
I'm totally new here, and don't know all the initials everyone is using, so I will just spell out my words.
My 4 year old son, Dain, was diagnosed with a 'communication disorder' at about age 2 1/2 and we had services start for him then. It should have been much sooner, but my pediatrician would not take me seriously when I kept insisting something was wrong with my son. I finally asked my WIC clinic for help, and they sent the right people to me to get us started, which I was very grateful for. He has been in a classroom setting since he was three, and I think he has the best teachers in the world. I am very happy with all that has happened with him. His teachers have been nothing but a blessing to us, and he has made great progress. He was also finally diagnosed with PDD-NOS this past fall, at age four.
My Mother-In-Law was visiting us recently. She has her Masters in Special Education, but has only worked with children ages 9 - 13, and retired about fourteen years ago. She noted Dain's proficiency on the computer, and asked me if he might actually have Aspergers. Of course, this triggered some research on my part (including finding this website), and what I found on Aspergers surprised me. It described my EIGHT year old son, not my 4 year old son.
We always knew that my 8-year-old was a little 'different'; in fact he displayed many signs of Autism at age 2 to 3, (didn't want anyone else to play with him, made elaborate set-ups of blocks around the whole living room which he freaked out about if you touched one, organized all of our videos every single night, among other things) but with a lot of careful attention from us (especially my husband) he eventually came out of his shell, and seemed to be a pretty normal boy. However, most boys his age are mean to him, and tease him; he only gets along with his cousin (who also has some kind of disability). He is an incredible know-it-all, which many people find exasperating, since he always interrupts to blurt out answers (which are often correct). He cannot talk without moving his body, I mean standing up and wiggling and shifting and sometimes walking in circles while he talks to you. I'm sure if he were in a regular classroom he would be in the principle's office daily (I home school him).
It seems weird to me to have two children with issues like this. I feel like I must be paranoid. Can this run in families?

Julie, Welcome.
Hi Julie,
yup it can very well be a family issue. I have a7 yr old son with high functioning autism and a 4 year old son with Aspergers. I also have a 1 year old daughter with sensory issues. Not to mention the uncle with un-diagnosed Aspergers and the 1st cousin with autism (verbal, but diagnosed autistic nevertheless).
It can well be heavily genetic, (although not always),
Dee
edit
Edited 2/19/2008 11:15 am ET by littleroses
Welcome!
Yes,
It can definitely run in families. There are statistics out there somewhere, but basically
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Julie
Mom of Ten: ages 4 to 22
Grandmother of Two: ages 1 & 2
My age? 43
I'm another one of the "runs in the family" group.
Welcome!
I'm mom to 5, the middle one is autistic, the oldest is Dx ADD-NOS but flirts w/ the spectrum, the youngest has ADHD -- all boys. The girls both have dyslexia Dx.
My DH has social issues and his parents were both very socially quirky (his dad was probably an aspie and his mom has lots of issues). My dad is very much ADHD tho unDx as well.
It's all in the family!
Betsy