Question for those with Aspergers (or family of one)

[IowaLutheran]

My 10 year old son was diagnosed with a mild form of Aspergers approximately one year ago. As a parent, I would like to know what may have caused it. When the psychiatrist was trying to form a diagnosis, she asked if our son had any birth trauma. I had forgotten about this, but my wife remembered that the u-cord was wrapped around his neck on delivery and the nurse gave him oxygen for a short period of time. No one ever indicated it was a serious problem and we were holding him within a few minutes, so we never thought much of it until the diagnosis.

The psychiatrist indicated that a significant percent of those with Aspergers had some form of birth trauma. If you have Aspergers, or know of someone with it, did that happen in your case? Do you have any additional information on possible causes?

 

[gal4God]

yea i have Aspergers and my mum have diffculties giving brith 2 me. I hope that helps.

 

[vespasia]

Genetics.

I come from a long line of over acheiving over qualified highly focussed aspies.

 

[Darkhorse]

Our first child had a similar birth (cord around the neck, low Apgar scores, warmed in an "incubator" for a few minutes), and neonatal jaundice a few days later, but our second child had none of these complications. Both have Aspergers; I suspect our genetics (both of us are geeks) had more to do with it.

 

[IowaLutheran]

Thanks for the input. I am not aware of any genetic links in our family but I suppose it is possible.

 

[amberzak]

Hey.

I am 22 and being diagnosed with aspergers. I didn't know what happened to me at birth (I can't remember that far back) but I asked my mum. She said that there were a lot of complications and I had to have my stomach and lungs pumped.

I did read somewhere that they think problems at child birth can cause it.

 

[Mirelys]

I have Asperger's. No birth trauma, though I was a preemie. They had to take me back to the hospital though because every time I was picked up I would hold my breath until I passed out, which made it difficult to feed me...I think that was an early indication of tactile defensiveness, and so caused by Asperger's rather than the other way around.

 

[kayd1966]

Genetics...something to remember is that most HFA & Aspies were not diagnosed 30-40 years ago unless is was SO obvious that autism couldn't be missed. My husband has never been officially diagnosed but he is definately an Aspie...if he was a child today, he'd have been diagnosed quite early. He is a completely normal person, holds down a job, a 'geek', very smart, and hates crowds/parties, etc.

There are many studies looking at so many different 'causes', here are some of the websites that I have frequented to learn more about my DH & son.

http://www.k12academics.com/aspergers.htm
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.12/aspergers_pr.html
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=255
http://www.orgsites.com/md/asperger_syndrome_info/

Hope this helps a bit...God Bless...