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About Trey McGowan
Expertise
My primary expertise is in the area of the social, psychological, and mental development of Aspergers Syndrome and other high-functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am also very knowledgeable in the communication disorders and common co-existing issues. I'm well-read on most of these as well as having experienced it myself. Other aspects of autism, I can do fairly well at as well, from the oversensitivity to the recognition of it.
Warning: I am *not* a medical professional, and while I can research answers through books and online, I can not give direct medical expertise.
Experience
I am 14 years diagnosed Asperger's Autistic, and have been reading up and studying it, as well as taking 'first hand accounts' for most of those 14 years. In addition, I have had three children, adopted elsewhere, all of whom are varying degrees of autistic from mid to high functioning. My mother has done some research on the subject as well, and passed some of it on to me.
Education/Credentials
I have completed grade school and most of high school, and achieved a GED. I've also received home schooling.
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You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Parenting Special Needs > Autism > Siblings with autism
Expert: Trey McGowan
Date: 7/1/2008
Subject: Siblings with autism
Question
My question is.....my finace and I just had our baby 12 weeks ago, his older brother is 6 yrs old and has severe autism. Now...the two boys have different mothers. I know that one sibling has a 10-20 percent chance of having autism if the other does but I'm assuming thats if both children come from the same mother and same father. I also know it depends on which side (mother or father) the autism came from. My fiance and I believe it came from his sons mom, her side of the family has a lot of leaning disorders and mental disorders....she herself is bi-polar and had OCD. What would be the chances of my son having autism?
Answer
Hi there, Crystal!
Unfortunately, while I wish I could give a solid and simple answer to this one ("Um, 63! Ah... 2%! ... can I buy a vowel?"), the study of the genetic propensity of autism is still comparatively in its baby-stages. A lot of numbers are still being picked willy-nilly, and there are not a large number of solid studies that can give the answer.
Because of this, the only thing I can answer is that, yes. There is very solid proof that autism runs in families, but it is unknown as to whether it is a recessive gene, a dominant one, a single gene at all, or anything of the sort. Until the 'autism gene(s)' can be isolated, being able to come up with a simple solid answer is impossible. About all that can be said is that if a child is autistic, then a genetic brother to them (of one parent *or* both) has a chance of being autistic as well, with more of a chance if both parents are the same. As a personal example, all three of my children had one parent in common (I.E. me), and two separate others... and yet all three are showing varieties of autism.
The best thing you can do, rather than watching in dread, is simply to raise the child as you would any other baby, and keep an eye out for the common stereotypies of that age. Any regression in skills should be immediately noted to your doctor so that any issues can be caught in advance, while the smaller behaviours that may (or may not) show up should just be taken note of and curbed (or welcomed) as they come. Without solid numbers, expecting the best and preparing for the worst is really the best thing.
Hopefully this has answered the question you had, and the delay can be excused! Further questions, comments, follow-ups, feedback, and other such fun things can always be directed here and answered with *much* more promptness.
Trey
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