Autism Spectrum Disorder comes with a whole host of myths and misconceptions.
It’s a disorder that has been misunderstood in the past, and even though we see it more in society today, people still don’t understand the truths about Autism.
Here are the top 8 myths, and the truth explained!
Children with Autism can’t learn
Children with Autism can absolutely learn, they may learn in a different way and sometimes progress can be slow. Some children may require therapy to help them improve, but as long as family and teachers are persistent and use an effective method of teaching tailored to the child there is no reason why they can’t learn.
Autism is caused by bad parenting styles.
Bad parenting has a lot of bad outcomes for children, but it doesn’t cause Autism. Many of us feel that we are not great parents because our child isn’t responding in the way we would like them to or as a typical child of their age, but once we understand our children’s needs and adapt accordingly parents can help their child achieve their goals.
People with Autism are intellectually disabled
Some people with Autism also have an intellectual disability, however some also have an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) within or higher than a typical range. Autism can bring out a person’s exceptional abilities as well as many challenges. For children with ASD, measuring IQ can be difficult and is often not as accurate.
All people with Autism have a “special gift”
Although Dustin Hoffman’s character in the movie Rain Man was based on a real person, not every child on the Autism spectrum will become a genius.
Children with Autism are less affectionate, cannot build strong relationships, and don’t want friends
People with Autism can struggle with social skills, and this may make it difficult for them to interact with other people. They may come across as unfriendly or shy, but just because they find it hard to communicate with others does not mean they don’t have the desire to make friends and build relationships. Social skills often need to be explicitly taught to children with Autism. Children with Autism often have very strong bonds with the people who are important to them in their lives. Because they often show emotions and affection in different ways to someone on the outside it may appear that they do not have a strong relationship, however some children with Autism show their emotions easily.
Vaccinations cause Autism
There have been many investigations and studies done, and there is no reliable scientific evidence to back up the claim that childhood immunisations cause Autism. Autism is complex and seems to be caused by many different combinations of genes and environmental influences.
People with Autism do not have other disorders or conditions
Although many people with Autism do not have any other conditions, many do. Some of the common conditions are Epilepsy, Intellectual Disability, and Fragile X Syndrome.
Autism can be cured or outgrown.
There is currently no cure for ASD. There are many theories for possible cures including fad diets, vitamins, killing off ‘toxic’ gut bacteria, increasing zinc, and even applying magnets to particular places on your head. None of these methods have been shown to be effective.
Children diagnosed with ASD, who receive the appropriate levels of care and therapy can live a successful and full life, as they acquire the correct skills to function through daily life. This is not a cure and they have not outgrown the disorder as they are receiving the appropriate support to lead happy and productive lives.
If you have any further questions about Autism please do not hesitate to contact us.
