Autism in the Family

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Autism in the Family

• Effects on Siblings of Autistic Children
• Amber Holloway

EG 5103 October 6, 2007
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About Autism
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of
developmental disabilities defined by significant
impairments in social interaction and
communication and the presence of unusual
behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs
also have unusual ways of learning, paying
attention, or reacting to different sensations.
The thinking and learning abilities of people
with ASDs can vary from gifted to severely
challenged. ASD begins before the age of 3 and
lasts throughout a person's life. It occurs in
all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and
is four times more likely to occur in boys than
girls.
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A Rise in Autism

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with
  Autism. ASD Diagnosis has risen over 800 in the
  past decade.

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Pressing Questions

• How does autism effect younger siblings of
  autistic children?

• Are there warning signs to look for in younger
  siblings?

• What is the autism phenotype?

• Do younger siblings of autistic children share
  similar social/cognitive development patterns as
  peers with typically developing siblings?

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Findings
Family and Community Challenges

• Emotionally affected
• Not only time, but life consuming
• Split time between siblings, find special
  time for each
• Financially affected
• Significant financial burdens for families
  and society

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At-Risk Warning Signs

• 10 of siblings develop the disorder
• 90 are at risk of developing the disorder. You
  often see the autism phenotype in these children.

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At-Risk Continued

• The following are results of a study conducted
  analyzing typically developing siblings (TD-sibs)
  versus siblings of autistic children (ASD-sibs)
• Social Referencing (Looking to adult for social
  cues about unfamiliar situations) was examined.
  The infants were presented with 3 unfamiliar
  objects in which the adults responded either
  favorabaly, unfavorably or neutrally toward. The
  infants responses were analyzed.
• TD-Sibs looked to adult for social cues 2.5 times
  more often than ASD-Sibs
• TD-Sibs showed 3 types of brain wave patterns in
  response to adult social cues (preference to
  object, dislike of object, or neutrality toward
  object) versus ASD-Sibs who exhibited identical
  brain wave patterns in response to all 3 .
• ASD-Sibs exhibited difficulties reading,
  interpreting and applying social cues
• Underwood 2007

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The Autism Phenotype

• The autism phenotype is often present in many
  at-risk younger siblings of autistic children,
  expressing itself through similar characteristics
  associated with the disorder. At-risk siblings
  may exhibit similar characteristics, yet they are
  not prevalent enough to warrant a diagnosis.

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Social Effects

• Lack of understanding siblings disorder
• Intervention- Talk to non-disabled siblings about
  disorder, assure age appropriateness
• Jealousy and resentment due to time required by
  parents
• Intervention- plan separate special time with
  non-disabled siblings

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Cognitive Effects

• Cognitive development was analyzed in the
  following study.
• Assessed domains cognitive development, play,
  socialization,imitation, social-communicative
  interactions, language and communication
• ASD-Sibs64, TD-Sibs42 (Ages 12-23 months)
• Deficits found in direct attention, understanding
  words/phrases, gesture use, social/communicative
  interactions with parents, increased autism
  symptoms
• Stone et.al 2007

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Long Term Effects

• Parental relationships are often effected.
• Siblings are often faced with the issue of
  becoming the primary caregiver when parents are
  no longer able to do so.

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Importance

• Understanding sibling effects are important to
  help them cope. After all, we do serve them in
  eduation as well.
• If patterns lie within at-risk siblings, early
  identification is possible, which means early
  intervention and a better prognosis.

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See references in the following paper (attached
to webquest)

• Autism in the Family
• Effects on Siblings of Autistic Children