New and I have some questions!

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So in the past 2 years I was diagnosed officially with high functioning autism. I identified with it for many years though. Anyways I am in a serious relationship with a girl who is not yet diagnosed but I can see a lot of signs. She is diagnosed instead with bipolar disorder. She has two autistic younger siblings as well. Her brother is nonverbal and unable to care for himself or communicate. Her sister has high functioning autism and is doing quite well. So me and my girlfriend are planning on having children of our own within the next couple of year since we are both able to hold jobs and are relatively happy with our lives. I am very afraid, however, that our children will have autism as well. Would a doctor be able to help us determine the risk? Or is it just a gamble? I would love to have a child like me or my girlfriend but I am terrified that our child may turn out like her brother who cannot communicate and lives in a group home because he is violent. Is the severity of your autism determined at birth or does early intervention and other help determine it? Let me know what you think. I'm not looking to debate whether we should have kids or not. We are hard working people and if we want to have kids it is our right. Just looking to see what kind of resources are out there for parents that are at risk of having children with autism and maybe some more information to help me better understand autism itself. Thank you so much everyone!

Have some kids. They'll be ok. And even if there are any problems, you'll work them.

I agree with the other posts. I can understand your concern (as I've thought about that as well). I'm already planning to be seen by a genetic counselor, simply because I'm kind of neurotic (not to mention chronic health issues seem to run in my family....).

Studies into the genetics of ASD are still new, and IMO there's still issues with the actual definitions of the autism spectrum (e.g., some of ASD's comorbid conditions might be more appropriately considered being part of the spectrum). The only relatively consistent genetic finding that I'm aware of is that more mutations tend to be found in those with more severe forms of ASD (and these individuals are less likely to have known family histories of ASD before a child is diagnosed). However, as those with less severe forms of ASD can have them too, it's definitely something you can look into. (In fact, depending on where you live, you may be able to participate in a study and find out that way.) If you live near CA, there's a neurologist (who specializes and does research into these types of things in kids with ASD) that I can suggest you contact. She recently spoke at an ASD a conference at my university and seemed to be quite knowledgeable about it.

theres no such diagnosis as 'high functioning autism'.
so, youd 'love' to have a kid like you with this 'better form' of autism that you apparently noticed enough (in between being gainfully employed and happy) to make your better form of 'official'? now you're just a quirky guy who naturally doesnt want his baby to be a degenerate. have you considered having your baby in a utopian novel of some sort?

Hey....don't mess with the guy.

As other posters have noted, it's a crapshoot. You might have NT children, you might have have children with HFA/Asperger's type autism, or perhaps have children with classic autism.

I reiterate: it's not definite that you two will have autistic children. Many children of autistic people have NT children. There's so many causes of autism that not one specific genetic "cause" has been isolated.

I would speak with a genetic counselor. But, alas, autism is not even Down Syndrome, a condition with a definite chromosomal cause. They might only be able to give you vague advice.

If you are really concerned, you can most definitely adopt. There are many kids aching to be adopted into a nice family.

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Basic genetics.

Whatever makes us has to be some sort of recessive trait(s) or we would be the majority.

And, I have normal children. Well, as normal as could be suspected of me brood. And my Grandson has Asperger's (diagnosed), my son has Dyslexia and my brother was diagnosed with Test Anxiety in the 80s.

No consistency there.

Good news on one front for sure- your kids would be "like you!" No matter where they fall on the neurodiversity scale, they will be similar to you guys and you will like and love each other.

There was a study that came out a few years ago showing that the "big five" all seemed to be associated with the same chromosome. This was autism, bipolar disorder, ADHD, schizophrenia, and depression. All five of these were running in some families and there was a gene association. I can find the article if anyone wants it. To be honest, I haven't been following it since.

First I wanted to explain that high functioning autism was a diagnosis a few years ago, as was Asperger's. Many people still use these words, but officially everyone is now just "autism spectrum." You may occasionally hear people referred to as "lower spectrum" but this is not politically correct anymore. It's more common to say non-verbal.

Okay, so from what I understand, you guys are afraid that you will have a child who is non-verbal, because your girlfriend's brother is that way and he is also violent? Non-verbal people can get violent when they have trouble expressing themselves, or when they ARE expressing themselves and no one is understanding them or they think no one is listening. Or, obviously, if they're having a sensory problem, like being touched. Non-verbal people may speak using non-standard means, such as motion or maybe even by speaking with an object or animal instead of a human. You just have to keep an open mind when communicating with them, and care givers are often extremely overworked and underpaid- sometimes to the point where they have to supplement their income with welfare. So you can't always expect them to try. It's a tough situation. My point is that your child is very unlikely to become violent, even if you have a non-verbal child.

The other thing to be concerned about is that your girlfriend's bipolar diagnosis is correct and you may have bipolar children or bipolar plus autistic children. This would also be completely manageable if you knew ahead of time what to look out for. I have a heavy history of bipolar disorder in my family and it honestly delayed me in having a child. I don't have it, but my parents did and it was frightening. If my child turns out to have it and it's severe enough to be a problem, I'd just get him medication when he was old enough to need it.

SO...try not to worry! Just enjoy being with your girlfriend and move forward with your life together!

All you have to do is keep them healthy and properly nutured (non-abusive).
Make sure they learn to question authority/everything.
Autism is known to be caused intentionally so make sure you learn how/why.
Grow your own organic-food with pure/clean/filtered water if possible.

Beware of the meats that are sold grocery stores from major corporations.
Most of the food-supply is actually contaminated with numerous carcinogens.
Absolutely do not ever feed your children with refined/processed sugars.
Get rid of televisions for they do absolutely no good for the minds of children.

Give them most-nutritious/healthiest organic-food possible (non-processed).
Once you know enough about herbalism/supplements/nutrition rest follows.
Question the doctors. Question the universities. Question corporate-media.
Nothing is more important than protecting the health of your children...