Autism and ASD...what's YOUR theory?

Blondangel

For mom's of LO's with ASD, why do you believe that your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder? I know that there are many theories, but I am curious to see what mom's think. Mom's tend to be very in tuned with their kiddos, and may have some insight that research doesn't. TIA

 

 

 

mommyof4boys

If this is an attempt to lure some crazy out that thinks that an MMR shot caused her kid's autism it won't happen.  Why would you ask a question like this on here?  FWIW, my child's autism is linked to his genetic syndrome 16p11.2 duplication.

Florak8

When I read your post, this is what it sounds like. Let me say it back to you: 

What's the most soul-crushing thing that's ever happened to you, "Blondangel"? Please tell us strangers about it, so we can all debate about why that happened to you, and be sure not to screw up like you did.

So maybe you could rephrase? 

Assembly_Reqd

Ha. Good one Flora.

Blondangel

-auntie-:

Why do you ask?

 

From what I understand, ASD has a genetic basis that makes that individual susceptible to something in the environment. Maybe heavy metals? If so, from what? We are exposed to so many chemicals everyday (everything from soaps to smog) that it's hard to say. 

I wanted to see if women who have more knowledge than me on this subject had any ideas. I also trust a mom's intuition.      It was certainly not my intention to offend anyone or try to start drama. I am truly sorry if my question was offensive.  

hopanka

Blondangel:

-auntie-:

Why do you ask?

 

From what I understand, ASD has a genetic basis that makes that individual susceptible to something in the environment. Maybe heavy metals? If so, from what? We are exposed to so many chemicals everyday (everything from soaps to smog) that it's hard to say. 

I wanted to see if women who have more knowledge than me on this subject had any ideas. I also trust a mom's intuition.      It was certainly not my intention to offend anyone or try to start drama. I am truly sorry if my question was offensive.  

I am one of those moms that certainly believes my son's ASD is a combo of genetic and environmental. However, it's a complex "puzzle" and I cannot tell you what precisely the trigger(s) may have been. Once you find out, please let me know...as this is the main reason why I (painfully) chose not to have any more children, although I always knew I wanted more than one.

Blondangel

hopanka:

Blondangel:

-auntie-:

Why do you ask?

 

From what I understand, ASD has a genetic basis that makes that individual susceptible to something in the environment. Maybe heavy metals? If so, from what? We are exposed to so many chemicals everyday (everything from soaps to smog) that it's hard to say. 

I wanted to see if women who have more knowledge than me on this subject had any ideas. I also trust a mom's intuition.      It was certainly not my intention to offend anyone or try to start drama. I am truly sorry if my question was offensive.  

I am one of those moms that certainly believes my son's ASD is a combo of genetic and environmental. However, it's a complex "puzzle" and I cannot tell you what precisely the trigger(s) may have been. Once you find out, please let me know...as this is the main reason why I (painfully) chose not to have any more children, although I always knew I wanted more than one.

Thank you for your honest and open answer. It is a puzzle for sure.  I am so sorry that you're in pain and had to make such a decision. 

redhotchili83

Autism is one of the most highly researched conditions in medicine right now.  If there was a simple "cause", they would have found it by now.  All the PPs above are right.  I firmly believe it is a complex spiderweb of factors that influence each other.

I do not have a child with ASD, but my brother has autism and I teach middle school students with ASD.

lolc

Your question doesn't offend me at all, and even as a mom of a child with ASD, I don't see what is offensive about the question. If anything, I wish more moms with ASD children would answer what their own thoughts/opinions are. I do understand how heartbreaking it feels to have a child with ASD and have no definitive answers - I'm there myself!! Also for the mom who said she chose not to have more children - I can understand how you feel regarding that as well. We do not know if my new baby might have autism, but the mere thought of it terrifies me... and I feel that if my 3rd does NOT have an ASD, that we dodged a bullet, and I'm not sure I want to take a chance again by having a 4th child (which was always my dream, to have 4 kids). I'm afraid we will likely be done with the three we have (and it does upset me).

My son Johnathan is almost 4. He got the official "autism" diagnosis shortly after his 3rd birthday, and has had early intervention since he was just over a year old. He is considered high functioning, but he still has a very long road ahead. I started sensing something was wrong shortly before his 1st birthday.

I battle with the question of WHY - every.single.day of my life.

I recently had my 3rd baby - a girl. I don't know if I'm still considered to be in the postpartum period (I had her 9/23) - but as of RIGHT now... currently, I have become frantically obsessive about her behavior. I feel she isn't making eye contact the way she should at the "2 month" mark. I'm terrified this could mean she could have an even more severe form of autism than my son (who is high functioning, and had no lapses in development until it came time for actual talking/forming words.... then other things he should have been interested in (social interactions with peers, etc) never came when they should (and I'm still waiting). My DH keeps reminding me that we had NO idea Johnathan had these issues at this stage, and that I'm "chasing after ghosts" - to stop being so paranoid, but yes, I am paranoid!

I wonder on a daily basis, several times a day - WHAT did I do!? What did I NOT do? Was it something I ate when I was pregnant? Was it something I didn't eat? Was it something I was exposed to? Was it the stomach bug I had when PG that landed me in the hospital, could whatever virus that was have affected him.... could it have been because we painted his room and I might have been around the paint fumes too long? Did I not take him outside and socialize with him enough? Did I not talk to him enough? WAS it a vaccine?? (He did not have any reactions to any of them!) Was it our house - was there something in the air in our house (because it's an old 1925 house). Was it the bottles he used - since they were used with my 1st son and were 2 years old by then - was it the possible "BPA" in them?

..... I could go on.and on.and on. forever and ever. Was it this, was it that. I wish more than ANYTHING that the professionals and researchers would FIGURE IT OUT. Because in the meantime, I sit here looking at my daughter, wondering if something I am - or am not doing - could be "making" her autistic.

Sorry to ramble, but that's my major, major issue right now. It's so bad I'm wondering if I should seek counseling. The constant thoughts about my son's autism has consumed my mind so much that I'm obsessing. :'(

The ONLY conclusion I can come up with - and I'm still not "settled" with this - is that it is genetic.

My brother (26y.o., 3 yrs. younger than I) has had "issues" for as long as I can remember. It was NEVER pinpointed. My parents were also not exactly pro-active either. They threw him on ritalin, got an official diagnosis of "ADHD" and never probed further. (Without going off topic, let's just leave it at: my parents were BAD parents to their kids). My parents to date go back and forth between saying my brother is "fine, he just has ADHD" to saying "He may have been brain damaged when he went into anaphalactic shock after the DPT shot (back in 84)." They have been approached, both by me, and even by professionals, about my brother having asperger's at the minimum, but they scoff and blow it off. ::sigh:: If they weren't in such denial, it might help MY son. But they refuse to get out of their state of denial. FWIW, my poor brother, at 26, has only 2 friends (and they have their own set of problems!), still lives at home and shows no hope of ever living independently, works part-time at McDonalds. Yet my parents still maintain that he's completely fine.

I can tell you that MANY - MANY of the characteristics my son displays, are also things my brother did or even DOES to this day. Observing my son now, I see a mirror-image of behaviors and things my brother did when we were younger.

DH and I have talked extensively about genetics. We're nowhere near "geneticists" - but just using the basic knowledge we do have from high school and college level biology classes - we both believe that IF our son's autism is, indeed genetic - that the gene is carried on the mother's side. My mother's-sister has a son who is also a little "off." He's not "off" enough to have an ASD diagnosis, but he too, has some "issues" that mirror kids who have high functioning forms of autism. There is nobody on DH's side of the family that has autism or even any characteristics/behaviors that can be attributed to an ASD.

So in sum: While I'm not 100% certain, our situation leads me to believe that PERHAPS our son's autism might somehow be genetic, carried on a maternal gene.

I'm sorry this is so incredibly long. I guess I just needed to write some of this out... needed an outlet and I picked your post to do it. 

lolc

Sorry, I just wanted to add that I CAN see how your asking this question was bothersome and even offensive to some. When I initially answered, I didn't realize you weren't an ASD mom yourself. Regardless, my post still stands....