Family History of ASD | Autism PDD
I hate to say this, but certain characteristics about my husband have long made me question if he has some sociopathic tendicies. Now as I learn about autism and see Levi's struggles...I definitely suspect genetic family history.
Mind you I am not stating that autism and sociopaths are alike per se. What I am stating is that my husband's mother was physically and emotionally abusive to all her children. He was her first born. I suspect while child abuse is horrible in all cases, it is worse with a child who has any disabilities.
My father-in-law is currently in a home for "alzheimer's disease" though the docs keep saying they don't know what is truly wrong with his mind, that alzheimer's does not quite fit him.
My husband has told me that as a child, by the time he was around age 4-5 he can recall feeling sooooooooo angry at adults because nobody seemed to understand what he was telling them. He said they just would not truly listen to him. My husband has also shared that he did not have one single friend in elementary until fifth grade. Even after that he did not get along very well with most people and got into fights all the time.
My husband seems to be able to focus so intently on whatever is his current interest to the point we could be screaming right next to him that a "thief had broke in and was trying to kill us" or "fire" and he would not notice. He has over the last few years become involved in online role playing games and now we don't even know him anymore.
My husband is always angry at people because nobody seems to understand what he tells them. He feels that we are all the ones with the problem, that he is the only normal one. LOL! He feels he is very logical and that the rest of us are not logical.
Of course I did not see this side of my husband the entire time we dated and were engaged, this side did not rear its ugly head until after marriage. To this day I always have to explain to the children what Dad is trying to tell them.
So for what it is worth, I am definitely questioning autism with my husband. May all of our children have a different atmosphere than my husband had of growing up...may we give our children lots of love and hugs so that they may grow up to be their absolute best!
Amber,
I seem to recall you mentioning that you're in, shall we say, a SNOWY-type area ... and you can't stand the sound of snow beneath your feet?! My goodness, you poor girl! :)
Most of the dcotors I've spoken with lately (and it seems like there's been a LOT -- too much for a sweet girl like me to stomach
!) have
mentioned that it appears that autism is genetic, but that it's
possible that there are different environmental triggers (e.g., dietary
allergies for some, sensitivity to heavy metals for others, etc.).I knew sooooo little about autism. I have done tons of reasearch and even after that and talking w/ you all, I still get confused! I can understand how it must be for general public and can't even figure out how dr's dx this. I took a test for adult autism. It is not that I think I am or anything, but doing research I have noticed that I can relate to several of the symptoms and wanted to see if maybe that could be Aiden's prob. If I have issues maybe he got them but times 2 or something. The test said scores of 32 or higher are autistic. My score was 29 point something. So I do have tendencies i guess you could say maybe. I have several sensory issues like i said. I also recall that I had sound probs as a child. I covered my ears a lot. I did things very very early and was very smart and social as a child though, like dd. She is much like me to be honest. Poor girl lol.
Amber
I can relate to so many of your posts! We definately have a genetic link in our family! My husbands whole family seems to have some characteristics. I thought it interesting .....My mother is schizophrenic and also 2 of her siblings had some form of mental illness. I have always questioned the link. I don't wish the schizophrenia on even my worst enemy! I would take my kids autism over it anyday!!I think after living with my sons and husband that some of their characteristics almost rub off on me! I find myself thinking as they would so that I can relate to them and get them to understand others.
I also believe there are environmental triggers.
My husband, his brother and their father all have SERIOUS deficits in
sociability. Before I knew much about autism, i would have described
them all as seriously antisocial. None of them enjoy family gatherings,
nor have the desire to "spend time with friends" and generally have a
problem with other people. All lack empathy in a huge way. They are
obsessive about their interests.
The more I learn about ASD, the more I have been diagnosing everyone I know.
My mother in law's brother definitely had pdd-nos. Back then (82 years ago) they thought he was oxygen starved in the birth canal. Her sister has pretty severe schizophrenia, this we know. Long ago, many ASDs were considered schizophrenia.
I won't even go into all the alcoholism in my father in laws family.
My husband's niece visually stims. No one knew what she was doing all these years.
My brother is mentally retarded. He had a history of severe seizures when he was young.
Being that my mother can't stop talking (truly!), I've decided she must have non genius aspergers, LOL.
Neither one of my parents are very social, they are in their seventies and have no friends.
Yes, I do believe there is a genetic link. Now I must stop diagnosing everyone I know.
[QUOTE=Suzi T]The more I learn about ASD, the more I have been
diagnosing everyone I know.
LOL. I totally know what you mean. I am forever diagnosing people
myself.LOL ... me too! I never knew we lived in such an autistic world until I started learning about it!
In all the conversations we have ahd with doctors, the same things come out of our mouths.. we just don't see these behaviors as being that abnormal because most of our family do the same things. What the difference really seems to be is that the behaviors are a bit more extreme in my ds then they are in everyone else (though I have become more and more aware of the things I do, like avoid eye contact etc in social settings and see where he gets it from)OK since we are getting into this about the parents of chidren w/ disorders...I have problems lol.
I am OCD and very logical and analytical. I had to train myself to be socially polite. Most would never know, but I do not like much eye contact and some people have mentioned that they feel I am insensitive, when I do not mean to be. I honestly sometimes just miss certain cues. I also have generalized anxiety disorder.
My mom's family has major history of schizophrenia and depression. Also compulsive disorders like major gambling and drinking probs. Luckily I don't like to drink or gamble
My father's side has the neurotic (spelling?) people and anxiety probs. They are also all the artists and creative people like writers. I am a writer and so is my father. Now my husband's side seems to have no probs. So it's ALL me lol. I even have an autistic cousin (severe autism, moderate retardation, cerebral palsey). Only good thing is I have a high IQ, so does dh, so does my father and dh's mother and dh's grandfather on mom's side, etc. So at least intelligence isn't a prob. And I do not doubt my son's cognitive abilities. He can be very smart and he watches things and figures things out. I am thinking he will be mild autism or moderate pdd (especially being so young to try to diagnose) if anything at all. Definitely no retardation just other things. It's hard sometimes to accept. I, myself, am finally at a good point where I see my sweet hearted boy and I don't care what label they decide for him. Amber Oh i have some sensory issues too. Many sounds I don't like and touch things. Like I cant' stand the sound or feel of snow beneath my feet, especially when it is a soft light layer. I don't like the sound of pencils and I cannot write with them. Don't like the feel of chalk. I have to lotion my hands real good before reading a book because I don't like the paper feel when holding the pages to read it. And other things like that. I wonder if ds just got my probs 10 fold? Amber As I sit back and look at the diagnosis this week even if I get a second opinion I believe ASD fits my three year old. Probably mild ASD. I just did not want to believe it! Question: He is my first born son. My mom's first born son now 37 is ASD also. He was given a grim prognosis and has two college degrees Bachelor of Science in psychology and the other Bachelor in English. I wonder since this makes two ASD in our family. I wonder if its genetic or family history plays a part. What do you think? my sister son- [pdd],,,, ok,,my older brother Sal def has some stimming issues- he flicks his fingers close to his eyes [still does and he is 39 yrs old] and jumps up and down as if he were playing basket ball without a ball, a net and a team. Also, def has ADD. PS he is married 3 beautiful daughters [one with ADHD] and is an attorney,, My other brother Anthony- socially inward, shy even with my parents, and has had a bout with hand flapping and also ADD- [38 yrs old married and just had a beautiful son John] My sister Ann Marie, [the mother of Anthony with PDD] - was/is OCD but most normal out of the four of us- ,ha ha!.. [hate to use the word normal- but fail to think of another word] then there is me.... have some severe ADD signs-but I am a college grad and have a good job...hard to focus alot- and I alos cna not never ever ever walk on wet grass- the thought of it makes me sick! and my sister said that she finds it very stressful to have conversations with me, and my brothers...
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