- 17% of the siblings of autistic children develop autism themselves
- A further 28% show delays in their development or behavioural problems
- Most common problems are shyness, lack of eye contact and slow pointing
05:00 EST, 11 June 2014
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05:50 EST, 11 June 2014
Nearly half of the siblings of autistic children develop abnormally, new research suggests
Nearly half of the siblings of autistic children develop abnormally, a study has found.
Scientists discovered 17 per cent go on to develop autism themselves and a further 28 per cent show delays in their development or behaviour.
But these signs can be detected at a year old, meaning the children can get help as early as possible.
Among the 28 per cent of children who showed developmental delays, differences were identified in their social, communication, cognitive or motor development by 12 months.
The most common deficits were in social communication and caused problems such as extreme shyness with unfamiliar people, lower levels of eye contact and delayed pointing.
Sally Ozonoff, lead author and professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the UC Davis MIND Institute in California, said: ‘Having a child in the family with autism spectrum disorder means that subsequent infants born into that family should be regularly screened for developmental and behavioural problems by their paediatricians.
‘This research should give parents and clinicians hope that clinical symptoms of atypical development can be picked up earlier, so that we can, perhaps, reduce some of the difficulties that these families often face by intervening earlier.’
The study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, was conducted in 294 infant siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder and 116 infant siblings of children with typical development.
All of the study participants were enrolled prior to 18 months of age and data on the children’s development was collected at six, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months of age using a variety of standard developmental tests for autism symptoms.
Some 17 per cent of the siblings of an autistic child go on to develop autism themselves
Professor Ozonoff said that parents and clinicians should be vigilant for symptoms early on among the siblings of children with autism, in order to take full advantage of opportunities for targeted early intervention to improve those children’s development.
She added: ‘Good clinical practice suggests that when children are showing atypical development they and their families should be provided with information about the child’s difficulties, clinical reports when practical and referrals to local service providers.
‘The intervention approaches need to be chosen based on each child’s profile of strengths and weaknesses and each family’s goals and priorities.’
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Singalong,
Around the Country,
15 minutes ago
I think the headline should read, half develop NORMALLY. Abnormally is an unfortunate misprint.
Tara Joan,
Portland, United States,
21 minutes ago
go on to develop or go on to be diagnosed with? this article is all kinds of horribly researched and written.
Mezza,
Perth, Australia,
22 minutes ago
Your heading is nonsense DM. It is stating that all the siblings develop abnormally. Not true.
yve,
UK, United Kingdom,
27 minutes ago
My friend had an Asbergers Syndrome child and it was painful to watch his younger brother, who was barely eating, try to explain things and calm him down. He got the fallout from his brothers behaviour, even at school. Such a lovely boy, so unfair.
null,
42 minutes ago
Perhaps then you should go more in depth as to what parents/carers/medics/educational Professionals Etc should be looking out for! Quite a vague article!
Millymoo,
Liverpool, United Kingdom,
43 minutes ago
RUBBISH
Terrie.walker-smith,
Bristol,
50 minutes ago
This headline cannot be correct – 50% are abnormal, and the other 50% either have autism or develop slower? So 100% of autistic siblings have some kind of development problem? I think Emma, this is mis-reported
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