Developmental disabilities can be of different nature. If one of the family members has a primary mental retardation syndrome with a small brain, in addition to having epilepsy, cerebral palsy or any brain injury, then these situations have no bearings on the genetics of Autism. These conditions mentioned above have occurred independently with no bearings on Autism. However, if a member on the family tree showed developmental regression early on, then whether this individual has a contributory effect on the genetics of Autism in one of the offspring remains uncertain. Unless research identifies a clear cut gene defect and if both individuals (the Ancestor and the offspring) had been carriers, we may not conclusively associate a hereditary component to the cause of Autism. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.