Abstract 737

Background: Autistic spectrum disorders are characterized by impairments in communication and reciprocal social interaction, as well as the presence of stereotypic, repetitive behaviors. There is widespread speculation that there is a genetic basis for autism, at least in part. Increasing attention has focused on the characteristics of parents of autistic children and whether they, like their children, are more likely to have impaired social interactions, poor communication skills, and higher incidence of repetitive or obsessional traits. Some studies suggest that the pattern of these characteristics in the parents of autistic spectrum children may represent a milder phenotypic expression of autism. Some investigators have observed a possible overrepresentation of engineers among the fathers and grandfathers of autistic children. Objectives: To determine if a higher proportion of parents of autistic spectrum patients have occupations that are nonverbal in nature, requiring less face-to-face social contact and more technical orientation, compared to the parents of nonautistic children. Subjects: 100 children with a diagnosis of autism/pervasive developmental disorder, evaluated at the Meyer Developmental Center, Baylor College of Medicine, compared to a control group of 100 non-autistic children seen at the Meyer Center as part of a study of asymptomatic congenital CMV. Methods: Data was collected via retrospective chart review. Parameters included parents' occupations and education level. Two probability distributions were calculated: the probability that the child is autistic given at least one parent is an engineer or technical specialist vs. the probability that the child is not autistic given at least one parent is an engineer or technical specialist. Chi square analysis and logistic regression were utilized in this study. Results: Study population parents and control group parents were similar in education level. 36% of autistic children had at least one parent with a technical/engineering occupation, compared to 33% of non-autistic controls. The odds ratio of an autistic child having a parent with a technical/engineering occupation was only slightly higher than that of a nonautistic child having at least one parent who was an engineer/technical specialist [Odds Ratio 1.16; Chi square analysis p = 0.68]. Education levels of both parents were not significant predictor variables. Conclusions: In this study, autistic children are not more likely to have parents who have technical, nonsocial, or nonverbal occupations than nonautistic children. However, additional investigation of behavioral characteristics in extended family members is warranted.