Autism and ADHD More Likely in Younger Siblings of Children with Either Condition

Younger siblings of a child with either ASD or ADHD should be monitored for emergence of symptoms of both conditions.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) commonly co-occur in the same child, or within members of the same family. No prior studies have examined whether later-born siblings are at higher risk for either condition, which is important to know to help families monitor their younger children and intervene early.

To examine the degree of sibling recurrence (i.e., developing the same condition) or cross-aggregation (i.e., developing the other condition) of ASD and ADHD, researchers analyzed medical record data from two large healthcare systems that have standardized ASD screening and evaluation methods. In over 26,000 children included (all aged ≥5 years), ASD incidence was 0.8% and ADHD 3.3% (which are …

Reviewing Author

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Jenny Radesky, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMelissa & Doug Toys (Consultant and Board of Directors)

Grant/Research SupportNational Institute for Child Health and Development; National Institutes of Health

Autism and ADHD More Likely in Younger Siblings of Children with Either Condition

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Reviewing Author