Paddy and Christine McGuinness’ life turned upside down by twins’ autism + VIDEO! Christine: When you learn that autism is in your life, as I have recently, you realise that it is up to you to help shape the future for the people you love

OHMYGOSSIP — Paddy (44) and Christine McGuinness’ life was “turned upside down” when they found out their twins have autism. The 29-year-old model – who has four-year-old twins Leo and Penelope with the ‘Take Me Out’ presenter – knows it is her “purpose in life” to look after her kids and ensure they fulfil all their hopes and dreams.

She said: “When my husband and I were first told out twins had autism, it turned out world upside down. I knew it was my purpose in life to be their mum but this really made me want to be the best mum I could be for them. I got so many hopes and dreams for our children. I want them to build relationships when they’re older … maybe even get married and have their own little families one day. Most of all I want them to be happy. I want them to live in a world where there is more understanding about autism.”

And Christine is desperate to help “shape the future” for her twins and others suffering from autism*. In a fundraising video for Autism Together’s Future 50 appeal, she added: “When you learn that autism is in your life, as I have recently, you realise that it is up to you to help shape the future for the people you love. This is a brave project being run by people who really care and as soon as I heard about it I knew I wanted to support it. I hope in fifty years’ time – or even sooner – this technology will be in use everywhere.”

It comes after Christine admitted she felt a “sense of loss” when her twins were diagnosed with autism. She said: “I think there is a sense of loss when your child is diagnosed with autism. The things you plan out, what you think you’re going to do, go to Butlins for the weekend, go to Blackpool or holidays, you realise actually those things might not happen as it would normally. But that was when we first found out. But now I’ve done my research, and I know a lot more about it, I’m really confident that I’m the right mum for these. I know I can give them a really good life. I know with lots of planning, lots of research into everything and preparing the twins I know they can do anything.”

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Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by troubles with social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. Parents usually notice signs in the first two or three years of their child’s life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then worsen.

Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include certain infections during pregnancy such as rubella as well as valproic acid, alcohol or cocaine use during pregnancy. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, for example the vaccine hypotheses, which have been disproven. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. In the DSM-5, autism is included within the autism spectrum (ASDs), along with Asperger syndrome, which is less severe, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

Early speech or behavioral interventions can help children with autism gain self-care, social and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been cases of children who have recovered from the condition. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some are successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder.

Globally, autism is estimated to affect 24.8 million people as of 2015. In the 2000s, the number of people affected was estimated at 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide. In the developed countries, about 1.5% of children are diagnosed with ASD as of 2017, a more than doubling from 1 in 150 in 2000 in the United States. It occurs four to five times more often in boys than girls. The number of people diagnosed has increased dramatically since the 1960s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual rates have increased is unresolved.

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