February 1, 2024

Family History and Kids with Special Needs

If you have a brother, nephew, uncle or some other member in your family with certain special needs, you will want to be cautious and mindful that many neurodevelopmental conditions have a high genetic component.

If you have a brother, nephew, uncle or some other member in your family with certain special needs, you will want to be cautious and mindful that many neurodevelopmental conditions have a high genetic component. Recent studies have indicated that genetics account for 70 to 80 percent of the risk of having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A 2004 study indicated that there is considerable evidence that demonstrates that genetics play a major role in the risk of having an anxiety disorder. It is important to realize that the risk factors are high; however, they are not necessarily 100%.  This simply means that just because a parent or relative has a neurodevelopmental disorder, it does not mean that the child will exhibit the condition. What it does indicate is that the child is at a higher risk for the condition.

As a parent, it is important to realize that your child may be at risk for a condition if a relative has that same condition. Do not be alarmed; instead, be aware. Always pay attention to any concerns, seek out advice from your pediatrician, psychologist and/or developmental therapist.

There are numerous possible warning signs for the purpose of this blog;  however, below is what to be on the lookout for:

Anxiety:

  • Does the child shy away from peers?
  • Does the child have sleep onset  issues?
  • Does the child engage in behaviors such as picking, biting nails, pacing, etc.?
  • Are there fixed routines that the child engages in?

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ADHD:

  • Does the child have difficulty focusing on work?
  • Does the child require a lot of redirection and repetition of information?
  • Does the child make careless errors with work?
  • Does the child always seem to be on-the-go?

Click here for more on ADHD

Autism Spectrum:

  • Does the child struggle with initiating and sustaining appropriate eye contact?
  • Are there language delays?
  • Does the child avoid seeking out others for interaction?
  • Does the child avoid engaging in nonverbal behaviors such as gesturing?

Click here for more on Autism

The information above should not be considered to be a diagnostic check sheet, but rather possible concerns that might require further assessment. Parents, if you know that there is a family history of a neurodevelopmental condition and you see any of the above signs or symptoms expressed in your child, it is then time to seek further guidance.

Download our Guide for Families

We know that choosing a local ABA facility can be a hard decision. We’ve created an informational guide to help you understand more about the questions you should be asking while meeting with different providers.

Although we talk about our services here, our highest goal is for you to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about picking a provider that is the best fit for your needs. You are making a decision that will impact the entire trajectory of your child’s life!
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The cover of the NSPT Guide for Families, which helps families to figure out the questions to ask when picking an ABA provider.

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