I'm not entirely sure where to put this post; this is the closest fit I found. Please move it if it belongs elsewhere.
To set the stage, I have an uncle with what appears to be undiagnosed Asperger's to a fairly high degree. Asperger's was not well known, apparently, when he was diagnosed with a generic "learning disability" back in the 60's, but he fits the description extremely well--tendencies to miss social cues, very narrow areas of interest, etc. He hasn't gone in to get a diagnosis since then because, frankly, he's getting along fine, with family support.
My question is about traits showing up in closely related family members. I was doing a bit of reading earlier, and came across information suggesting that the families of those with Asperger's are more likely to have very mild, "subclinical" autistic traits. References were made to the Broad Autistic Phenotype. However, I was unable to find any good information on the subject, and was curious if anyone here might be able to point me in the right direction.
My curiosity is motivated by traits I see in myself. While I do not believe I have Asperger's Syndrome myself, I have noticed some Asperger's-like traits. I am very introverted, and have more trouble than most in social situations I am unfamiliar with. I have been known to focus exclusively on one subject for a time--but not for very long, making my self-education very broad. For a long time, I attributed these things to simply being part of my personality type. On the Myers-Briggs scheme, I fit squarely and neatly into the INTP category. I am now curious how much of this might have been influenced by the same kinds of hereditary factors which lead to Asperger's.
This question is partially practical, as well. While I am not likely to have a kid anytime soon, it would be good to know whether or not it would be prudent to prepare for my children to have Asperger's.
I have often thought my father might have a few traits, he can never see another way of thinking might be right, for one, although that might well be more of his being a tosser than a latent aspie
Its nothing specially concrete, very subtle, but I think there are traits.
My mother. She has the sensory issues and she can do complex math in her head but socializes pretty well. My dad is very antisocial and paranoid. My sister...doesn't have any autistic traits nor does my brother.
my father. I am his doppleganger in every way, down to areas of talent.
my grandfather (on my mothers side). hoarder, smart, just...aspie.
my grandfather (on my fathers side). geeky, smart. collects trains and buses (models, I hasten to add). usually has a better computer than me. going blind though
My husbands uncle seems to have Aspie-like traits or may even have Aspergers. I dont see him that often as he doesnt show for any social events which could also be an indicator. My husband I can see some Aspie traits although he does well socially so I'm unsure. One of our sons is autistic. My father is also very quiet but I just think that is his personality.
Speaking for my husband, his father has many signs of AS. Actually, it was funny, when we were talking about Autism being genetic, he said, well, my father had no signs of it. I mean, he just sat there reading his books all day, always the same books, I mean, he was obsessed with them, and when you tried to talk to him, it was all about his interests, you could not get a word in edge wise about your thoughts or feelings, and you could never tell how he was feeling, I mean, it never showed on his face, and then it was like, kablooey, he would explode with emotion, and boy did he hate social situations, and you could never disturb his routine...
I just sat and listened and smiled...
Hmmmmm. My mother, masses of sensory problems, wears at LEAST 2 pairs of socks even in the height of a very hot summer. Very finicky about food, vicious tongue and vile explosive temper, (things being smashed and doors almost torn off their hinges were a regular ocurrance in our house whilst I was growing up)volatile and highly strung. OBSESSED with dogs, horses, and animal rescue, doesn't like people, much prefers animals.
My father, quirky NT, workaholic, hoarder, highly intelligent, gifted, quiet, very good mimic, very deep, extremely sensitive, has severe anxiety disorder, usually very calm until pushed to far, then will explode!
My brother, incredibly intelligent, genius with computers, obsessed with computers, works with computers, likes to talk about technology. Sensitive, home-loving, has stims, used to have problems with eye contact.
My cousin, late 30s, still lives at home, obsessed with heavy metal and has a death fixation. Highly likely that she is on the spectrum.
My late uncle, again highly likely that he was on the spectrum. Loved tigers, really sensitive, deep, had explosive temper and depressive tendencies. Did a spell in Borstal as he fell in with the wrong crowd, had a difficult life and attempted suicide.
My son's father, quirky NT/aspie traits. Gifted at art and writing. Can't take much socializing, prefers to be on his own, definitely not a talker, has set routines and can't cope with much. Always depressed, used to hit himself, (don't know if he still does)
Here's my two cents, based on slightly dodgy science (as unfortunately, there's no definite scientific guidelines to go by):
Twin studies have shown that if one twin is autistic, the other twin has a 92% chance of also being somewhere on the spectrum.
Basically, this seems to mean that if you have the genetic makeup for autism, there's an 8% chance that you wont fit the criteria for a PDD. That 8% is probably one of the places the "NT with AS traits" thing comes from.
Add on to this the number of people that might have been diagnosable as a young child, but have learned enough strategies that a PDD would no longer be diagnosed, and that bumps the figure up quite a bit.
So yeah - my guess is that "NT with AS traits" translates out to "AS genetics, but doesn't quite fit AS behavior criteria".
As far as children go, I'd advise keeping the idea in mind, and see what happens...
Evil zakkie wrote : "So yeah - my guess is that "NT with AS traits" translates out to "AS genetics, but doesn't quite fit AS behavior criteria".
That would fit a loose description of myself - I could list a bunch of family member that fit the criteria - but were not in any way disabled from happy lives and making a living.... Family members here and there never diagnosed as in my opinion the older generation had it better (no data to back this up). Times WERE simpler, less of a rat race, sensory issues not as prevalent because people spent more time outdoors and less time being barraged by fast pace media, MEga malls did not exist, store shelves were not as colorful or smelly, artificial colorings and food quality was better.... life was more structured, discipline was clear, schools were orderly, rules were followed (in the US anyway) many more reasons...
It was not too uncommon for those who are now say in their 60's to not finish out even high school, they could naturally find a technical or physical profession or career....
I have a number of what would be considered NT traits - never in my life did it occur to me I had any relationship with autism.
An ability to be spontaneous, to see things form others perspectives (not that AS people can't - but a change in routine is not a problem for me ) I am very social now, very talkative, empathetic, intuitive - I only got this way after meeting my husband. (have a whole bunch of surface friendships - aquaintances- can easily chat and socialize with any group at all, enjoy parties and loud music... Mainstream school was just way too easy - so easy I stopped even showing up or doing homework - grades only wnet down when they atarted counting homework, pretty typical there.
on the AS side: (based on people here's explanattion of things they see in themselves as aspie traits) very sensitive hearing, crazy good eye for detail, do not remember being a kid, have never felt peer pressure, can't remember faces and names (I don't think i care to) late blooming sexually (actually tried sex like a science experiment), rather be alone as a child then with others, liked animals better than people, unable to not be blunt or brutally honest (learned how to not to be), have no idea if I was ever picked on as I was oblivious, very strong in language, high IQ 154 at age 5 - I have no idea why I was tested, my parents said I always did my own thing nd they just left me be alone in my room reading, my parents always said she was such a good child she would be happy to play with a piece of lint for an hour, besides family and my husband, only have 2 actual friends (and don't care-have a whole bunch of surface friendships - aquaintances) highly distractable sometimes, highly focused and perseverative others, non-conformist, kept very detailed logs, minute by minute after my 1st child was born just so I could keep track of things. Have a very strong sense of social justice.
all in all - my DX is - I am me - you are you and what evil zakkie said : ""NT with AS traits" translates out to "AS genetics, but doesn't quite fit AS behavior criteria". Sounds pretty close to the mark.