Five Common Myths About Autism

Five common mythsabout Autism The SAILS Group

Autism is both prevalent

and complex in nature, so

it is especially important

that the myths be parsed

out from the facts.

Knowing the facts is the first step to providing greatcare and support for those on the autism

spectrum. They will benefit from your knowledge,empathy, and encouragement.

Here are five discredited myths...

to help you understand what is true about autism,and what is unequivocally false.

Autism

Myth1

is a mental health disorder

Autism is a neurological

disorder involving

abnormalities in brain

structure &

neurotransmitter levels,

the cause of which is

rooted in gene

mutations.

That being said, autism does

impact behavior, emotion

and cognitive ability.

Mental health disorders are

not genetically

predetermined and may

come about at any stage in

life for any number of

reasons.

Myth2

People with autismcan’t understand or express

emotion

Emotions aren’t absent, but an autisticperson may have trouble

communicating and regulating them,and experience difficulty

reading them fromindirect social cues

alone.

Autistic people can fall in love, have families,friends, pets and children. Because the autism

spectrum is a wide one, each individual is bound toexperience, express and sense emotions differently.

It’s important that this differencein emotional intelligence is

understood correctly, becauseindividuals on the spectrum can

be incredibly sensitive andempathetic. They just need help

bridging the gap betweenfeeling and expression.

Myth3

Autismis curable

The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) consists of many types of

autism, therefore, even if one or two were curable, there is not

an overall cure and likely never will be.

The most effective treatment appears tobe behavioral (ABA) therapy, which

allows individuals with autism the socialand communication tools they need to

live happy and healthy lives.

Be wary, because there havealso been many productstouted as cures, like the

Miracle Mineral Solution andChelation therapy. The FDAwarns that such productsand therapies are not only

unproven, but can beincredibly dangerous.

Myth4

People with autismall have "special abilities"

This includes photographic memory,extraordinary math talent or advanced

creativity.

Many people on the autism spectrum also haveabnormally high intellect in specific areas that

interest them.

Only ~10% of autistic people exhibitsavant abilities.

Autistic individuals often display keen attention to detailand precise technological skills but savant abilities arecertainly not the norm.

Some researchers believe

the manifestation of such

abilities could have to do

with heavy concentration

on particular talents

making up for other

cognitive or social

deficits.

Autism

Myth5

is the result of bad parenting

The myth of parent wrongdoing

dates back to the mid-20th

century idea of “cold mothers,”

whose unloving treatment

(in theory) caused

children to

withdraw socially

and become

unresponsive.

This notion emerged around 1950 and has since been widely

debunked. Though parents are no longer blamed for their

frigidness, other scapegoats have emerged in recent years.

One persistent misconception is the claim that vaccines cause

autism, even though the study that linked the two was retracted,

and the doctor’s medical license revoked.

On the other hand, credible studies have linked prenatal factors

like parent age and chemical exposure to an increased risk.

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