Anonymous

22 months

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Hi doc :frowning: why my son also got autism? I am autistic mom with high functioning level & everyday i feel so bad about myself. Is he got that from me? In future if plan to have a baby, is he/she will also autistic?

Hello and good afternoon.

Thank you for your question.

Based on your question, I understand that you are worried about your situation. I will try to help you.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder. Someone with ASD may have difficulty with social interaction, communication, and behavior. 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. About 30% of people (about 1 in 3) with ASD have an intellectual disability.

According to your statement, you have a high functioning level, which is a positive side of it. You should feel proud of yourself because there are studies showing that people with ASD have an intellectual disability.

Your son might have inherited this problem from you. However, sometimes it can occur because of getting pregnant at an older age, a difficult birth, or infections during pregnancy. These are all examples of factors that might increase the risk of having ASD.

If you have a child with ASD, you are more likely to have another child with ASD. If you are planning a pregnancy, I would recommend you meet with a doctor since you have ASD. This information can help your doctor determine how likely you are to have a child with ASD.

Therefore I highly recommend you speak to your doctor regarding your situation to provide you with the safest and best route of care to manage your condition as a whole, taking into account the various factors mentioned above and more. You can contact our doctor online for further information and treatment.

I hope this answer helps you. Thank you.

Click here to speak to a doctor

AdobeStock_334032893

AdobeStock_230143593

Do you know that your immune system plays role in the effectiveness of vaccines?

Prevention is better than cure. Is My Body Ready to Fight Infection? Find Out in only 5 short minutes!

Health Forum

Explore health related questions.