Five Misconceptions about Autism

As I write this it is Autism Awareness Week (it’s also Type 2 Diabetes Awareness Week).

To learn more about how people view the condition, I’ve broached the topic of ASD with a few friends and colleagues this week. Unsurprisingly I found the conversations steered towards sympathy for the parents, talk of vaccinations (anti-vaxxers too), geniuses and the movie Rain Main.  I guess, this is why we have awareness campaigns right?

With all this in mind I’ve chosen to share Five Misconceptions about Autism to do my part in raising awareness.

Autism is a Mental Health Condition

It is not.

Autism is a developmental condition, simply put; the brain is wired differently.  This is not the same as it being a mental health condition.

People with autism (like everyone) have varying degrees of mental health.  However, note that mental illness is more common for those with autism (and yet still gets overlooked).  Common MH issues include depression, anxiety, susceptibility to stress and attention disorders.

ASD Means Genius

Nope!

I can’t recall the exact statistic (and it varies by country) but a little shy of half of people with autism also have learning disabilities.

This one has frustrated me for years actually.  I have often heard from friends that this is true because they know someone with autism and he/she is really smart or because of (sigh) Rain Man.

The problem is that it ignores that autism is a spectrum of conditions with lots of variations. A thumb is a type of finger but a finger is not a type of thumb. This is fact. Asperger’s is a form of autism but ASD is not equal to Asperger’s. It is just one subset (and one where increased intelligence is statistically likely).

I should also note that this is not to say that those with autism are typically less intelligent either.  It’s just developmentally different.  Emotions and intelligence are expressed differently.

ASD Can Be Cured if Caught Early

Children with autism grow into adults with autism.  It is a lifelong condition.  As stated, it is also a developmental thing.  So, no – this is not the case.

You might ask then, why do we put so much effort in trying to identify it early on.  The answer is to support the child (and their parents) during this extremely difficult stage.  A lot of prejudice and confusion still exists in society for children who grow up developmentally different and the system does not allows allow for these differences.  It means more support and specialists are required.

ASD Means No Emotion

I hate that I have heard this (more than once in-fact).

I find this not just ignorant but incredibly insensitive and unsympathetic and it makes me angry to hear.  Of course, people with autism have emotions and often this is one of the reasons that they struggle with everyday life.

It’s not a lack of emotion that comes with ASD it’s being unable to express it in a way that people without the disorder might.

ASD Is Caused by Vaccinations

Two decades of research however have clearly concluded that vaccinations are most certainly not a cause.

So, there we have it.  Five misconceptions about autism, I hope that at least one of my readership finds this helpful.  To be clear, I am not a doctor, though I am suspected to have ASD myself, have worked with autism and am parent to an autistic child. So, this does come from a place of experience. If you are looking for more information on, or are a parent of, an autistic child; one excellent resource to checkout is Autism Parenting Magazine.

Sharing is caring: If you enjoyed this content or found it informative please like or share on social media.  With campaigns like this, it is especially important to spread information and awareness.