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> Hammond is now the mother of two autistic sons. An autistic autistic-advocate has two sons and they are both autistic? What are the odds of that? Is there so

> Hammond is now the mother of two autistic sons. An autistic autistic-advocate has two sons and they are both autistic? What are the odds of that? Is there some genetic hand down I’ve never heard of?

tacheiordache 3y ago
So you're saying autistic people should not have children?
- xyzelement 3y ago
  I think he's just probing the improbability of this scenario absent a genetic component (which wouldn't be surprising to me if there was - is it asserted that autism is non-genetic?)
- mass_and_energy 3y ago
  I mean, I'm autistic and will adopt instead of having biological children for that very reason. I'm high functioning and still had a cursed childhood owing to it. I wouldn't roll the dice on bestowing that on anybody, let alone my kin. I realize that's a pretty hot take to many people but as someone that dealt with the best-case scenario of the disorder, this isn't something any kid should have to deal with.
  - jprete 3y ago
    I'm willing to take the risk if the opportunity shows itself. But I've spent so much time understanding what the disorder did to me that I think I could teach my child the things that took me so long to learn.
    - mass_and_energy 3y ago
      That's a fair point, and a good way of looking at it. My biggest concern, to be honest, is that they'll be low-functioning and it'll be because of the hand I chose to deal them. The thought alone is haunting
  - the_sleaze9 3y ago
    I find this inspiring - truly an example of heroism and bravery. Bravo.
- jknoepfler 3y ago
  The specific questions asked were "what are the odds of that?" and "is there a genetic component?" The answer to the latter is "yes", which although unquantified in the responses, at least intuitively changes baserate assumptions. I'm not sure how one draws a normative assertion out of the questions, implied or otherwise.
pushcx 3y ago
Yes, it is highly heritable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism
lawgimenez 3y ago
Can you elaborate on your comment? A lot of autistic advocates have autistic children.
epcoa 3y ago
Heritability of ASD is pretty widely accepted and mainstream for years (family history listed as number 1 risk factor on Wikipedia). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26709141/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26709141/ Science is long past if it is heritable though and onto why. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2215632120 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2215632120
purpleblue 3y ago
If your first child is autistic then the chances of your second child being autistic skyrocket to well over 50%. The problem is that a lot of autistic symptoms don't show up until you've already had your second kid.

tacheiordache 3y ago

So you're saying autistic people should not have children?

xyzelement 3y ago
I think he's just probing the improbability of this scenario absent a genetic component (which wouldn't be surprising to me if there was - is it asserted that autism is non-genetic?)
mass_and_energy 3y ago
I mean, I'm autistic and will adopt instead of having biological children for that very reason. I'm high functioning and still had a cursed childhood owing to it. I wouldn't roll the dice on bestowing that on anybody, let alone my kin. I realize that's a pretty hot take to many people but as someone that dealt with the best-case scenario of the disorder, this isn't something any kid should have to deal with.
- jprete 3y ago
  I'm willing to take the risk if the opportunity shows itself. But I've spent so much time understanding what the disorder did to me that I think I could teach my child the things that took me so long to learn.
  - mass_and_energy 3y ago
    That's a fair point, and a good way of looking at it. My biggest concern, to be honest, is that they'll be low-functioning and it'll be because of the hand I chose to deal them. The thought alone is haunting
- the_sleaze9 3y ago
  I find this inspiring - truly an example of heroism and bravery. Bravo.
jknoepfler 3y ago
The specific questions asked were "what are the odds of that?" and "is there a genetic component?" The answer to the latter is "yes", which although unquantified in the responses, at least intuitively changes baserate assumptions. I'm not sure how one draws a normative assertion out of the questions, implied or otherwise.

pushcx 3y ago

Yes, it is highly heritable: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritability_of_autism

lawgimenez 3y ago

Can you elaborate on your comment? A lot of autistic advocates have autistic children.

epcoa 3y ago

Heritability of ASD is pretty widely accepted and mainstream for years (family history listed as number 1 risk factor on Wikipedia). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26709141/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26709141/ Science is long past if it is heritable though and onto why. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2215632120 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2215632120

purpleblue 3y ago

If your first child is autistic then the chances of your second child being autistic skyrocket to well over 50%. The problem is that a lot of autistic symptoms don't show up until you've already had your second kid.