Don't worry overmuch, but yes the percentage does go up. There is another 2 threads on this topic if you look up the archives.

Don't worry overmuch, but yes the percentage does go up. There is another 2 threads on this topic if you look up the archives.

well, the genetics are a big factor, i only had 1 child! my sister has 2 ,both with sperger', my cousin has autism, my auntie had it and my father has tourettes syndrome- just one big happy family!!! good luck though, there are no definites in this world, so it is all guess work til the arrival!

Jake is my oldest...we found out he was autistic when Elle was 2 months old. We got pregnant again when she was 8 months old and had a boy. Both Elle and Ty do not have developmental issues, you just have to prepare yourself for the possibility and be hopeful. Good luck!

Its not hereditary!!!

Although the significance has not yet been clearly defined, there is a genetic component involved. And no matter how hard it is (and I understand as I have 3 children myself), do your best not to dwell on it...these times go by so fast. So enjoy.

Dr. Jeremy

http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/Genetic_Factors_in_Autism.htm
http://olpa.od.nih.gov/hearings/110/session1/testimonies/autism.asp

The general population rate is .67%
The concordance rate with non-twin siblings is 5-8%
The concordance rate with fraternal twins is as high as 10%
The concordance rates among identical twins is 60-95%.

VERY GOOD ODDS for a non-ASD 2nd child.

If could share one thing with you, it is that MOST cases of autism are NOT inherited. Families can have a genetic predispositon for it though. Is our case it was vaccines. My older son Noah was a completly NORMAL little boy and within 24 hours of his MMR shot he lost all of his speech, started head banging and screaming, and had massive diarrhea. At first I thought I was crazy for suspecting the vaccines, but after Noah had received his autism diagnosis, I met MANY other parents who told the same story. Unfortunately I had been vaccinating his younger brother, and the damage had been done. I stopped all Chase's vaccines at 6 months, but he still appears to have PDD-NOS. Pediatricians will tell you vaccines are safe, but they are not. I would urge you to either not vaccinate, or wait until your son is over 2 years of age. You can say NO. You can get a religious exemption. Doctors will tell you there is no basis to not vaccinate, and they will try to make you feel like a bad parent for not doing it. If that happens, FIRE them and find someone who is more supportive. Both of my boys are doing much better now, but you can bet none or my kids will have vaccines again. This includes my 2 older girls.
When HPV vaccine came out, I told them NO way! You will have to make your own decision on this, but I was told by a specialist that if you have one child with autism,and the other is a boy, he has 50 times the chance of being autistic as well. I think if you avoid vaccines you will have much greater chances of having a normal child. Also, FYI the flu shots are FULL of mercury. I would avoid those, but again your decision. You might want to check out NVIC.ORG. I am sorry to be all gloom and doom, but I wish somebody had told me this stuff with my boys. I wish you the best of luck!
Rachel

I have four children, two girls and two boys. Only one, the oldest, is on the spectrum. Daniel had a stroke due to an abruption while I was almost 7 months pregnant with him, which wasn't discovered until he was 4 and went through all sorts of EEG's and MRI's. The stroke is the reason for some of his symptoms, but not all of them; we'll probably never know all of the reasons. I believe that the symptoms of autism can be caused by many things and that not all of them are genetic. Try not to worry. Siblings are great for kids on the spectrum! Daniel's three younger siblings have made him interact in ways I wouldn't have thought of!