If your child is diagnosed with ASD, the doctor might refer your child for genetic counseling and testing. Genetic testing and autism spectrum disorder If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, your doctor might recommend carrier screening if you have a family health history of a genetic disorder, such as fragile X syndrome. Learn how early intervention leads to better outcomes for children with ASD. Also, a diagnosis of ASD is important for tailoring children’s education once they start school. If a child is diagnosed at a young age with ASD, treatment is more effective. A reliable diagnosis of ASD is more common around 2 or 3 years of age and usually made by a developmental specialist. When a child is closely monitored, signs of ASD can sometimes be noticed at 18 months or younger. The doctor may check your child more closely for early signs of ASD and might refer your child to a specialist for further evaluation. Knowing about your family health history of ASD can help your child’s doctor better care for your child.

What might the doctor recommend for your child if you have a family health history of autism spectrum disorder? Consider including older family members who have or had signs of ASD, even if they were not diagnosed with ASD, as ASD diagnoses were less common in the past and might have been missed.īe sure to share your family health history of ASD with your child’s doctor and other family members.Be sure to include anyone who received a diagnosis that is no longer used, such as Asperger syndrome or mental retardation and.Include anyone with a genetic disorder that can cause ASD, such as fragile X syndrome or Rett syndrome.Note if anyone had genetic testing and the results of that testing.Include anyone with a diagnosis of ASD, learning disorder, intellectual disability, schizophrenia, epilepsy/seizures, personality disorder, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Include your and your partner’s children, parents, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.When collecting family health history information, This information can help your doctor determine how likely you are to have a child with ASD. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, tell your doctor if you or your partner have a family health history of ASD. Your other family members would also be more likely to have a child with ASD.

If you have a child with ASD, you are more likely to have another child with ASD, especially if you have a daughter with ASD or more than one child with ASD.

Having a family health history of ASD makes you more likely to have a child with ASD, or to have ASD yourself. Why is it important to know if you have a family health history of autism spectrum disorder? People with certain genetic disorders, such as fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and Down syndrome, are more likely to have ASD. For example, ASD is four times more common in males than females. Beyond these factors, certain people are at higher risk than others. Having older parents, a difficult birth, or infections during pregnancy are all examples of factors that might increase the risk for having ASD. What causes autism spectrum disorder?Īlthough the cause of ASD is known in some people and not known in others, genetics, biology, and environment are all important factors. About 30% of people (about 1 in 3) with ASD have an intellectual disability. For example, the earliest signs of ASD are that children may not make eye contact with their parents and may not be aware when someone is talking to them. Someone with ASD may have difficulty with social interaction, communication, and behavior. What is autism spectrum disorder?Īutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder. Early screening and diagnosis of ASD can ensure that children receive the services they need for better outcomes. ASD can look very different from person to person, so taking a careful family health history can be important for early diagnosis. If someone in your family has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you may be more likely to have a child with ASD.

Autism spectrum test for parents