10 myths about autism debunked

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurobiological disorder that affects brain function and the configuration of the nervous system. This manifests itself in the form of difficulties related to communication, interaction with other people, thinking and behavior.

Everything that surrounds this disorder has not yet been fully clarified and some pieces are missing to complete the puzzle that allows us to understand it in its entirety. The cause of ASD has not been determined at the moment, although it does seem clear that there is a genetic implication in its development.

What do we understand by autism?

One of the points that make it especially difficult to understand the ASD is its heterogeneity. Although all people who receive this diagnosis have essential characteristics, the manifestations in each individual can be very varied, hence we speak of a spectrum. This means that not all people with autism are the same. They can have very different characteristics and their evolution and adaptation will also depend deeply on their supports, their intellectual level and their linguistic development.

Knowing what autism is and all that it implies is essential for the affected person's environment, as it is a condition that will accompany them throughout their lives. However, this does not mean that it is static. That is, depending on each stage of development and the experiences of the person, their needs may vary.

To achieve the well-being of people with ASD and their families, it is essential to receive specialized support that addresses the situation in a comprehensive manner with techniques based on scientific evidence.

Due to the ignorance that, as we have mentioned, still exists regarding ASD, it is common for the general population and even many family members of people with this condition to hold erroneous beliefs about autism. Therefore, in this article we are going to comment on some common false myths about this disorder.

What false myths about autism need to be debunked?

We are going to disprove some very common misconceptions regarding ASD.

1. Autism is a disease

It is very common that ASD is classified as a disease. However, this is not exactly the case. Autism is not contracted at any time in life and it is not contagious. Conversely, it is a developmental disorder that from the first stages of life alters the development of the nervous system. This generates a disability in the person with autism that will accompany them throughout their life cycle.

2. Autism has a cure

Another common belief about autism is that this condition can be cured. However, as we have mentioned, autism is a developmental disorder that persists throughout life. This means that there are no curative treatments that erase ASD. What do exist are interventions based on scientific evidence that allow reinforcing the competencies of people with autism and improving their quality of life and that of their respective families.

3. Vaccines can cause autism

In the times we are going through, much has been said about vaccines and their risks. However, this debate is not something new that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic. In relation to autism, there have been many beliefs that linked vaccination with the development of ASD.

International studies that have been carried out to verify the veracity of these beliefs have completely refuted them. The scientific community affirms that there is no evidence of such a relationship between vaccines and autism development.

4. ASD is synonymous with intellectual disability

This myth is one of the most widespread. It is very often assumed that people with ASD have intellectual disabilities. As we have already commented, ASD constitutes a whole spectrum, where there are great differences between the individuals found in it. One of them refers precisely to intellectual capacity. While there are people with autism who have intellectual disabilities, there are others with average or even higher than average ability.

5. People with ASD do not communicate with others

On numerous occasions it has been stated that people with ASD do not communicate with those around them. Of course, this condition undoubtedly affects social interactions and communication processes. However, this is not synonymous with not communicating.

People with autism can communicate, but they do it in different ways (for example, through non-verbal language). Advances in the field of ASD have made it possible to develop alternative or augmentative communication systems that favor the interactions of people with autism.

6. People with ASD prefer to be isolated

The belief that people with ASD prefer to be alone, isolated, without interacting with others is very common. However, this is not so at all. Although they want to be with others and interact, many times their difficulties in dealing with social settings make it especially difficult for them to establish satisfactory interactions with them.

In some people with ASD there is also a certain hypersensitivity to stimulation (tactile, visual, sound ...), so close contact with other people can be invasive and distressing. In spite of everything, the support of professionals can be of great help so that they can cope properly in these day-to-day social situations.

7. Autism involves a certain physical appearance

Many people believe that autism involves a number of distinctive physical traits. However, this is not so at all. In fact, we could say that autism is an "invisible disability" at first glance, as there are no indicators of the external appearance that give us clues. What can be detected from the first moments we meet someone with ASD are behavioral traits (for example, stereotypies, repetitive behaviors ...), but never physical ones.

8. People with ASD are aggressive

Another very typical myth is one that depicts people with ASD as aggressive or violent individuals. It is true that, at times, people with this condition can feel overwhelmed by the difficulties they encounter when it comes to coping with their surroundings (unpredictability, invasion of their personal space, too much noise / light…).

Thus, these levels of stress can trigger inappropriate behaviors or that others cannot understand. However, with the necessary support and some changes (for example, trying to maintain a routine that does not change and generates uncertainty), this type of behavior does not have to appear.

9. ASD is more common in men than women

One of the ideas that has been maintained the most in recent years is that ASD is a much more common condition in males than in females. Although the data seemed to indicate this, the scientific community has begun to consider the existence of certain biases that have led to underdiagnosis in women.

Some experts have proposed the idea that ASD has different manifestations in them, or that the same red flags go more unnoticed in girls than in boys. Thus, It would seem necessary to bet on a gender perspective when evaluating and diagnosing ASD.

10. Lack of affection

Numerous hypotheses have been developed to explain the origin of autism. As we have already mentioned, to date no specific cause has been identified that explains the development of ASD, although the role of genetics seems quite evident. Despite this, an idea that has spread and is erroneous is that which relates the development of ASD with the absence of affection on the part of the caregivers.

Although bonding problems can trigger numerous problems in boys and girls, the evidence indicates that the origin of autism has nothing to do with bonding in the first years of life, as it is a neurobiological developmental disorder.

Conclusions.

In this article we have reviewed some very widespread myths about ASD. Although science has advanced in recent years and this condition and its Implications, still remain in the population (even in the relatives of people with autism), many erroneous beliefs about what this disorder is and its characteristics.

It is common for autism to be associated with disability, although these do not have to go hand in hand. The belief has also spread that people with ASD are aggressive, do not communicate and prefer to be isolated. However, they want to relate as others do, only they have difficulties that can hinder their performance in social settings.

Although it is false that ASD has a cure, since it is a disability that accompanies the person throughout his life, the support of professionals is crucial. Thanks to them, people with ASD can exploit their full potential and acquire tools and strategies to be able to enjoy a better quality of life, autonomy and ease in their relationships with other people. The family also requires this professional support, since managing daily life with a person with ASD is a challenge. Although no cause has been identified that specifically explains the origin of autism, it is known that genetics play a very relevant role.