Myth or Truth?
Autism is a spectrum condition and affects people in different ways. Like all people, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses. Here is a list of difficulties autistic people may share, including the two key difficulties (below) required for a diagnosis:
Social communication:
- Taking things literally and not understanding abstract concepts.
- Needing extra time to process information or answer questions.
- Repeating what others say to them (this is called echolalia).
Social interaction:
- Appear to be insensitive (or over sensitive).
- Seek out time alone when overloaded by other people.
- Not seek comfort from other people(even though they may crave it).
- Appear to behave strangely; or in a way thought to be socially inappropriate.
- Find it hard to form friendships (when again, they may crave this).
Other Key Difficluties:
- Repetitive and restrictive behaviour.
- Over or under-sensitivity to light, sound, taste or touch.
- Highly focused interests or hobbies.
- Extreme anxiety.
- Meltdowns and shutdowns.
With its unwritten rules, the world can seem a very unpredictable and confusing place to autistic people. The rules that seem obvious to neurotypical people just aren't visible to the neurodiverse.
This is why they often prefer to have routines so that they know what is going to happen.
They may want to:
- Travel the same way to and from school or work.
- Wear the same clothes.
- Eat exactly the same food for breakfast, or lunch or dinner.
Why not check out the top 10 myths about Autism below. Click on a myth to flip it and learn the truth.
Autism is a Disease
Myth!
Autism is not a disease and autistic people are not ill. It is a neuro-developmental disorder that can manifest itself in communication impairment or difficulty in social skills and interaction.
Autistic people can still live independent, healthy and productive lives, especially with the aid of therapy and professional intervention: but you can't catch it!
Autism has a Cure
Myth!
Autism is a neurological condition and as such, the brain is wired differently. It's probably been like that since before birth but we're not sure as it's impossible to diagnose earlier than 2 or 3 but it does show up on brain scans.
There are many snake oil salesmen who peddle various therapies and diets but at best it's a con trick and at worse downright dangerous.
Vaccines cause Autism
Myth!
In the late 1990s a dubious research study was published in a journal that drew a highly tenuous link between vaccines and autism. Based on an experiment not conducted up to scientific standards, it was later completely debunked as deceptive, inaccurate and non-replicable.
The Doctor behind the study was subsequently stripped of his medical licence.
Autism = Learning Disability
Myth!
It should be clear by now that autism is a spectrum, and so everyone’s learning ability is different. Educating someone with autism takes an understanding of their needs, abilities and learning style.
Some may require more understanding, method adaptation and therapy to achieve the same level of learning, but some may have a higher than average intelligence.
Autism = Savant
Myth!
Whilst real, It's a myth to assume that ALL autistic people have a savant skill. In fact, no more than 10% of people with autism display some advanced level of a particular skill. Even among those who do, the skills themselves are varied in type and degree.
With often specific and focused interest in a topic, sometimes to the exclusion of all else. They become expert on the particular subject.
Lacking Emotion
Myth!
This is particularly unfair and harmful for autistic people. People with autism are fully capable of feeling all emotions. Autism impacts on the ability to communicate and socially interact and can be misinterpreted as being a lack of interest to make connections and relationships.
We also struggle with interpreting other people’s emotions, body language & expressions, and social nuances.
It's an Epidemic
Myth!
Both misleading and untrue, it's partially understandable as the number of people diagnosed with autism has increased over the last few decades. Of course, this is actually a reflection of increased understanding and diagnosis of ASD/ASC.
In the past, many of these undiagnosed would have simply been treated as socially awkward, insensitive, introverted or a combination thereof.
They'll Grow Out of It
Myth!
One cannot grow out of autism. It is a lifelong disorder and there is no ‘cure’ for autism through either therapy, medicine or special diet.
Although a lifelong condition, there is much that can be achieved through support for the development of coping strategies, new skills and communication/social abilities, to help improve day to day life and mental health.
Autism = Non-Verbal
Myth!
Some autistic people can speak and communicate verbally, others can’t. Some autistic people have higher IQs than other people and some have IQ levels within the average range.
Of course speech is only one form of communication but we humans seem to think it's everything; so, if you can't talk, you can't communicate (or comprehend). My son couldn't talk until 5 but could read at 3.
Caused by Bad Parenting
Myth!
Way back in the 50s,there was a theory "The Refrigerator Mother Hypothesis". This theory suggested that mothers who were not warm emotionally and could be neglectful or distant would traumatise their child so much that it would cause autism.
Of course, this completely bogus theory was debunked scientifically decades ago. Unfortunately, the myth still persists.
I'll add an 11th but it really should be number 1
We're all a bit autistic aren't we?
Presumably in the same way we're all a little bit in a wheelchair!
It's obviously well meaning but about the worst thing you can say as it underlines in thick lines and bold capitals that you just don't get the nature of autism and how it affects those with it.
Your brain is either wired broadly similarly to everyone else or it isn't. Or it may be broadly similarly wired to another group of the human race. If the number of those people is significantly numerically smaller then it's the exception.
Of course with so much under diagnosis, late diagnosis and masking, the true number of those "on the spectrum" is difficult to assess but if it's much larger than currently thought then it could be less statistically "not usual" and more just "differently normal".
Why not head over to The Quiz Page and see how you get on.