Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder where people may have difficulty with social communication and interaction as well as restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities.

On top of its effects on the patient, ASD comes with unique challenges for family members. Getting professional help for these neurodevelopmental disorders can be difficult and there are long wait times. Therefore, the ability to target interventions to whole families or other individuals within a family at risk of poor outcomes is important.

Previous literature has found increased mental disorders in siblings, but other areas of functioning, including physical health, injuries, medication use, and education remain unexplored. Using provincial health data, we will examine the impact over time of a sibling with ASD on the mental and physical health and education outcomes in other siblings. We will gain knowledge on which siblings are at greater risk and therefore identify potential targets for including family and sibling interventions within resource-strained neurodevelopmental programs.

With the onset of many mental disorders in youth, this is a critical time to be able to alter illness trajectories to help prevent onset of negative outcomes. This is the first study to examine the impact of an ASD individual on the educational outcomes of siblings, which can help identify important time points for intervention and an additional avenue for identifying sibling needs outside of the healthcare system.

Panel Writeup

The impact of autism spectrum disorder in Canada

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with a modest prevalence estimate of one per cent of the population, affecting males more than females. Around one in 66 Canadian children between age five and 17 have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, including one in 42 boys and one in 165 girls.

It has been estimated that up to 37 per cent of siblings of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder are diagnosed with a psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorder.