Is this genetic..and if so..then by who?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2006
Is this genetic..and if so..then by who?
3
Fri, 03-10-2006 - 3:34pm

My dh and I have been talking about this. We want to have a child of our own someday (we both have children from previous marriages), but are worried if our child would have PDD as well. As you know, my ds was just diagnosed with PDD....but he comes from my previous marriage. I am concerned that it was me that gave it to him. I called my mom and my dad and asked them if they knew of anyone in the family that had autism...and my mother said no one on her side of the family that she knows of has it, but my father said that his nephew has it...and badly..to the point that he is in a home for it, but that he is the only one in the family (it's his sister's son). I haven't asked my ex-dh about his family...and to be perfectly honest, could careless about him or his family (he hasn't been around since he left us for another woman 2 1/2 years ago).
My dh and I love my son to pieces, and wouldn't change anything about him...but we just want to know what our odds are on having another PDD child, or a child with some other types of problems. I would love to blame this on my ex (who wouldn't), but know that might not happen. Anyone have any insight in this?

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-10-2006 - 4:55pm

I don't think they know for sure yet how it is passed. And autism is on such a rise that statistically speaking the general public is at a pretty decent risk for ASD's. Yes if you have one child with ASD your risk does increase to have a second one. I know I am not the only one here who has more than one child with an ASD.

The chances are still better that your second child with be NT. I think the numbers are something like if you had one child with ASD the risk increases to 1/10 instead of 1/166 but I may be very very wrong on that. I know if you have 2 kids with ASD you chances of a 3rd are like 1/3.

I beat those odds though. My first 2 are ASD and my 2nd 2 are not. My youngest was questionable and borderline but appears to only have ADHD and SID and both are fairly well managed naturally and he is thriving.

With our kids it comes from both sides. My husband's brother has a son who is autistic. My aunt was mildly MR and most likely autistic. She recently passed away at 65 and when she was a child autism wasnt really diagnosed so she never really had a autism diagnosis. I knew her well and I believe she was.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2003
Sat, 03-11-2006 - 1:56pm

Dear Heather,

Just so you know, studies on children w/ Autistic Spectrum Disorders are showing that the vast majority of them have high metal issues, aka mercury poisoning via vaccines. These kids DO have a genetic susceptability to getting ASD if they are exposed to metals to early and in large quantities (although some kids only need a minute amount to be damaged).

Although this is a HIGHLY emotional and difficult journey to embark on, I would highly suggest having your son looked at by a DAN doctor in your area to determine if he is suffering from a toxic metal over load - our twins were dx'd w/ PDD-NOS and we just found out that it is actually mercury poisoning, and it is treatable. Our DAN Dr says that it is very rare that he sees a ASD child who is not mercury-toxic. A DAN Dr is the best person for this as they are trained in the protocals of treating autism - they know what to look for, b/c mercury "hides" - it is virtually undetectable in blood, urine and hair, so you look for other key markes of it's toxicity. I have heard people say that "Well there was no mercury in his hair or blood so the Dr says it can't be mercury poisoning..." This is misleading b/c mercury binds to the kids' brains and organs. Many Drs treat it like lead poisoning - they are looking for high levels in the hair and blood. Anyway, I am going on and on....

If you need info:

http://www.bioprobe.com/ReadNews.asp?article=27

http://www.kmsp.com/news/investigators/story.asp?1638408

http://www.safeminds.org/

List of DAN Doctors:
http://www.healing-arts.org/children/amyholmes.htm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 03-11-2006 - 6:58pm

I'm sure your chances would be higher since you already have a child with ASD. We have 1 child out of 4 with ASD and bipolar. We have ZERO family history of either of those disorders---at least not immediate family history. But.......in dh's family there is history of learning and langauge delays--but they all turned out "normal", ADHD, anxiety, OCD, bipolar in one of dh's cousins, moodiness, alcoholism, suicide.
My family---has anxiety and speech delay(late talkers), one langauge delay in my nephew that wasn't even picked up until 12yo. Everyone with very high IQ's and "normal".

Now---with mixing my genes with dh's genes we got:

#1 dd 11yo----just started having panic attacks--"normally" very laid-back, easy going.
#2 dd 10yo----dyslexia, processing disorders, anxiety, low esteem issues/possible depression, some sensory issues.
#3 ds 6yo----Bipolar, high functioning autism, anxiety.
#4 dd 4yo-----so far so good. Some sensory issues.

My son got the worst of it because he is a BOY. These things are higher in boys. But, I also feel that my 10yo will be dx with depression in the future and possibly bipolar. The only kid that was "different" from about 18 mo on was my son. The rest were totally "normal" and very slowly got symptoms. My 10yo didn't have any signs of anything until 8yo.

I certainly wouldn't not have a child "just incase" they may be PDD. If you guys want a child--have one. You are 2 different people with different genes.