I was reading up some newer statistics derived from research on using 3 D imaging on crancial features of autistic children, where the researcher hoped to gain more information on the correlation on autism and cranial features of children with complete autism, and could possibly use it as a precision tool to determine autism during pre-screening. It followed that it might even be possible to use cranial correlation to forecast possible autism before childbirth while the baby is still in the womb.

This will throw more light on our question: “Is Autism Hereditary?”

Research indicates that genetic factors may play a part in causing autism in some individuals. Most researchers agree that autism probably results from many separate causes.

Video:T. Conrad Gilliam, University of Chicago, explores family and twin studies that indicate that for a majority of individuals diagnosed with autism and related spectrum disorders, a significant genetic predisposition to disease results from the cumulative effects of heritable genetic variants affecting multiple genes.

Since autism is considered a genetic condition by many scientists today, the chances that their child might also develop autism are a bit higher than normal. As for the boys/girls ratio, it is said, that more boys than girls develop autism (which is probably not true, autistic girls are probably just not diagnosed as often because autistic behaviour is often not so obvious, or not considered unusual in girls (i.e. it’s more okay for a girl than a boy to be quiet, off in their own world, shy with people etc.).

However, autism is not 100% genes. If it was, then if one identical twin is autistic, the second one would ALWAYS be autistic, which is not always the case.

Family research has shown that in families with ASD, the possibility of autistic disorders is higher compared to so-called NT-families. The disorders are all related to reading-, spelling- language- and/or body-movement disorders or other developmental disorders, like Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADHD) or a tic-disorder and other less dominant ASD.

The possibility of another child with ASD, after a born ASD child is between 2% and 5%. Parents with an ASD childbirth have an higher possibility of about 100x to get another ASD childbirth, compared to parents with NT-children.

Several studies of twins suggest that autism or at least a higher likelihood of some brain dysfunction can be inherited. For example, identical twins are far more likely than fraternal twins to have autism. Unlike fraternal twins, which develop from two separate eggs, identical twins develop from a single egg and have the same genetic makeup. It appears that parents who have one child with autism are at slightly increased risk for having more than one child with autism. This also suggests a genetic link. However, autism does not appear to be due to one particular gene.

It is a fact that the cause of autism has yet to be discovered. It is also a fact that a cure for autism has yet to be discovered. A new case is diagnosed every 20 minutes in the U.S., but getting to a diagnosis can be a frustrating battle. Based on these facts, it is important to understand that if you have a child that has autism, you must simply work to make the world of the child, as well as your world, as comfortable and happy as possible. There is hope in many anecdoctal cases where autistic children can benefit by early intervention, and can grow and develop to lead a life of good quality as adults.

If your baby was born premature, and if you are worried about the risk of your baby developing autism, then it is good to consider the latest researches in this respect.

According to a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, children who are born more than three months premature have double the expected rate of autism at age two as full-term children.

Video - Identifying early signs of autism in your child

Let’s look at some statistics from the study which was conducted using an assessment method via a survey of children behavior known as the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT).

Overall, about one in 10 of the extremely premature infants who did not have other health problems (including cerebral palsy, mental impairment, or vision or hearing problems) tested positive for autism at age two.

However, even if the child was tested positive, not all children who test positive definitely have the brain development disorder or autism. There are two main reasons for this:

1. Autism spectrum disorders (which include a range of diagnoses, from mild to more severe autism) aren’t typically diagnosed until age three or older
2. The M-CHAT is not considered a definitive test.

To quote Health.com :

“However, the finding is not surprising, according to Dr. Antonio Hardan, director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study.

“We have to be in the womb for nine months for a good reason,” says Dr. Hardan. “There are a lot of steps of brain development that should occur in the right environment, and the ideal environment is in the womb.”

In the new study, which was conducted by a team led by Karl Kuban of the Boston University Medical Center and Boston Medical Center, 26 percent of children who were born extremely premature (27 weeks gestation or less, as opposed to a full-term of 37 weeks or more) had cognitive impairment, 11 percent had cerebral palsy, 3 percent had problems with vision, and 2 percent had hearing impairment.

Overall, 21 percent tested positive for possible autism when given the M-CHAT at age two. However, when the researchers excluded all children with cerebral palsy or other health problems, 10 percent of the extremely premature children tested positive for autism. About 5.7 percent of children who aren’t premature test positive on M-CHAT.

Hardan said in addition to brain development, premature birth also cuts short crucial nutritional and hormonal support.

“You put together being born at 27 weeks, prenatal complications, and the possibility of genetic vulnerabilities, and all these factors will add up to launch the process that can lead to autism,” he said.

Over the past decade, some research has suggested that autism may be on the rise. Hardan said that more awareness of autism, as well as a broadening of the definition of the condition, have played a role. However, the fact that more premature infants are surviving than in the past may have also contributed to autism rates, he said.

“Twenty or 30 years ago, the survival rate of a baby born premature was much less than it is now,” he said. “Today, thanks to medical advances, we are seeing these premature babies at age nine, or as teenagers, with emotional and behavioral symptoms similar to autism.”

The symptoms include a lack of eye contact, pointing and social interest. However, sluggish motor skills in an infant or toddler do not automatically mean a child has autism.

“Motor milestones [such as lack of eye contact] are often delayed in premature kids,” she said. “But we expect that a premature baby will not have any more complications by age two.”

If a child still has signs of autism past the second birthday, such as withdrawing from peer relationships, lack of speech, using repetitive language, and a persistent fixation on certain objects, it could mean he or she has autism.

“Kids without autism still have social interest, even if they have difficulty, but with autism, social communication skills are impaired or absent,” Warner said.

Although there is no cure for autism, treatment is available, and the earlier the better. Hardan and Warner recommend a formal evaluation for children if caregivers suspect something is wrong.

“You can go through the school system– it’s free,” Warner said. “It’s important to get a good handle on what the impairments are.”

People reading this article also read the following resources on autism:

1) Essential Guide To Autism - Discover Vital Information About Autism & Check For Autistic Traits - Get What Really Works. Click for details.

2) Complete Autism Package. 1 In 166 Babies Have Autism. Interview With Autism Expert Trained By Famous Dr. Andrew Weil. Click for details.

3) The Parenting Autism Resource Guide. A Complete Resource Guide For Parents Who Have Children Diagnosed With Autism. Click for details.

4) Positive Approaches To Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Short Books Offering An Informative And Positive Approach To Autism, Aspergers Syndrome And Dyspraxia For Parents, Carers And Teachers. Click for details.

5) Autism Essential Guide - The Complete Guide To Finally Understanding Autism. In Depth Report On Autism. Filled With Informative Literature The Reader Will Get The Real Facts About Autism And Learn How To Cope With The Stress Of Raising And Teaching An Autistic Child. Click for details.