Five Common Myths About Autism

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 great care 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.

Myth 1: Autism 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.

Myth 2: People with autism can’t understand or express emotion

Emotions aren’t absent, but an autistic person may have trouble communicating and regulating them, and experience difficulty reading them from indirect 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 to experience, express and sense emotions differently.

It’s important that this difference in emotional intelligence is understood correctly, because individuals on the spectrum can be incredibly sensitive and empathetic. They just need help bridging the gap between feeling and expression.

Myth 3: Autism is 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 to be behavioral (ABA) therapy, which allows individuals with autism the social and communication tools they need to live happy and healthy lives.

Be wary, because there have also been many products touted as cures, like the Miracle Mineral Solution and Chelation therapy. The FDA warns that such products and therapies are not only unproven, but can be incredibly dangerous.

Myth 4: People with autism all have "special abilities"

Only ~10% of autistic people exhibit savant abilities.

This includes photographic memory, extraordinary math talent or advanced creativity.

Many people on the autism spectrum also have abnormally high intellect in specific areas that interest them.

Autistic individuals often display keen attention to detail and precise technological skills but savant abilities are certainly 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.

Myth 5: Autism 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.