Autism myths and misconceptions. How much do you really know about autism?
In recent years, more and more people are sharing their experiences of being diagnosed with autism late. This has caused a lot of debate about what autism really is, with the common refrain being, “But you don’t look autistic!”
Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a form of neurodivergence that affects development in different areas of life. One of the most obvious areas is social and communication skills. However, note that it occurs on a “spectrum,” which means that symptoms can vary greatly from one person to the next.
At the time of this writing, about 2% of the world population is considered autistic. But lots of misconceptions still abound related to the condition.
Most Common Myths About Autism
In this post, we hope to share some of the most common myths and misconceptions about autism.
Myth #1. Autism only affects children.
Perhaps one of the main reasons that many adults are diagnosed late is that they were overlooked for diagnosis as children. Autism is actually a neurological condition, which means it’s something that a person has for life, not something you outgrow with childhood.
Many autistic individuals find effective coping strategies as they mature, so that when they become adults, they appear “less” autistic. But that doesn’t mean the condition has gone away.
Myth #2. Autism is a learning disability.
Autism is not a learning disability; it’s a neurological condition, which means that the person’s brain is wired differently from neurotypical brains. That can mean they learn and process information differently from the average individual, but that does not automatically mean a learning disability.
However, autism can sometimes co-occur with other neurodivergent conditions, which might be construed as hindrances to learning. This is perhaps the reason why it’s easily misunderstood as a learning disability.
Myth #3. Autistic people are always geniuses.
On the other extreme, movies have commonly portrayed autistic savants. These are autistic individuals who are highly gifted—geniuses, if you will—in a given field. (The Netflix series Good Doctor is one example.) As such, many of us think that someone being diagnosed autistic means that they should then have a special talent in a specific area, such as music, science, art, or mathematics.
The truth is, autistic individuals’ intellect falls on a wide spectrum (no pun intended) just like any other person’s.
Myth #4. An autistic person is always anti-social.
Another common misconception is that autistic people are anti-social. The truth is, autistic individuals tend to have a lower social battery and need greater support for social interactions than neurotypicals. This is one of the reasons for the social struggles of autistic persons.
An example is the autistic person’s common dislike for small talk, a skill that is assumed to be a given when interacting with people in a social setting. Another example is the autistic person’s tendency to take things literally and therefore miss implied social cues.
Myth #5. Autistic people lack empathy.
Most people think of autistic individuals as robotic and lacking empathy. While some autistic people may struggle with identifying feelings, hyper-empathy is actually common among people diagnosed with autism.
What does this look like? It can look like the autistic person being hypersensitive to the emotions and energy of the people around them. But because of the heightened way they process this information, they can get easily exhausted and withdraw.
Myth #6. Treatment can cure autism.
If we view autism as a disorder that can be cured, we will be looking for the next best treatment offered on the internet. The truth is, since autism is a neurological condition, it’s not something that we can cure.
The more recent neurodivergence view supports the belief that we are all wired differently, autistic people included. This means that instead of wishing it away through hopeful “cures,” we embrace these differences and find ways to work with these in helping the autistic persons in our lives into their full potential.
Myth #7. Bad parenting can cause autism.
Because speech delays are one of the most common early warning signs for autism, sometimes we think that bad parenting choices—such as too much screen time and too little personal interaction—may have led to the condition.
The truth is, it’s not bad parenting that caused the condition; however, a more intentional and interactive parenting style offers a greater opportunity to understand the child’s needs at an early age and make accommodations as necessary. For example, becoming aware that too much screen time can hinder the autistic child’s developing communication skills may mean reducing gadget use, but it certainly cannot be the root cause of the neurological condition.
Myth #8. Autistic people can’t stand physical touch.
While many autistic people also have sensory processing disorder, the way this plays out for each individual is different. Some may be sensory-seeking, while others may be sensory-avoiding. The sensory-avoider tends to be the ones who don’t like loud noises, bright lights, and certain taste and tactile experiences.
Again, it’s not a general occurrence, but depends on the specific individual’s sensory preferences.
Myth #9. Only boys can be autistic.
Over the last few decades, more boys were diagnosed with autism, causing the misconception that girls cannot be autistic. However, recent studies have uncovered the occurrence of autistic girls and women.
They have found that girls may not have been diagnosed due to several reasons: one could be that they were more effective at masking; another possible reason is that they could be overachievers whose performance covered over their lack in other areas in life.
Myth #10. Autistic people don’t make eye contact.
One of the early signs that parents watch for in terms of autism is when their babies or toddlers don’t make eye contact. However, when it comes to older children and adults, eye contact is not the do-all-and-be-all definition of autism. Many autistic individuals learn to make eye contact, despite being uncomfortable with it, in an attempt to “appear normal.” As such, eye contact is not a reliable basis for determining whether someone is autistic or not.
Understanding Autism Myths and Truths
If someone you love has been diagnosed or is suspected to have autism, it’s crucial that you debunk some of the most common myths and misconceptions. That way, you’re starting on a good footing of knowing the truths and understanding them better.
This post is not meant to be a comprehensive list. We encourage you to continue expanding your research to understand more about autism and how it can affect the daily interections and relationships of the autistic person in your life.