Autism Spectrum Disorders: Busting the myths
18th January 2019
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders that affect a person’s social communication and interaction abilities. This term covers some of the more well-known disorders such as Asperger’s syndrome, Autism and Pervasive development disorder.
Despite originally being thought of as a ‘rare’ disorder, autism is more common than Down’s syndrome and Cerebral Palsy combined, with the latest research suggesting that around 700,000 people in the United Kingdom are on the autistic spectrum. That equates to 1% of the UK population, or one in 100 people, meaning that it is probable that you have come into contact with someone with ASD in your time. Despite this, and despite the awareness surrounding ASD increasing, surveys show that there are still many misconceptions about people on the autistic spectrum in the general public. This can cause difficulties for people with ASD and their families when trying to access support, or just go about their daily lives and interact with society. Here, we are going to attempt to bust some of these myths.
Common myths include that:
ASD can be cured
A survey by autism.org found that 39% of those who had heard of ASD thought that it could be cured. In fact, there is no known ‘cure’ for ASD as it is not an illness or a disease. Instead, ASD should be considered as a difference in the way that people perceive and interact with the world, which can sometimes cause them to find life more challenging. This does not mean however that there is nothing that can be done to help those on the autistic spectrum. There is a wide range of treatment and support available for people with ASD that can improve their skills and help them function better in their daily lives.
ASD only affects children
Surveys show that many people believe that ASD only, or mainly, affects children. However, autism cannot be outgrown; children on the autistic spectrum grow up to be adults on the autistic spectrum. This misconception can be quite damaging as it can make it more difficult for adults on the autistic spectrum to access support, and may increase judgement from others.
ASD only affects males
This one is a misconception that can be understood. Whilst it is not true that ASD only affects males, it is true that at the moment four times as many boys are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders as girls. However, there is some debate surrounding whether this statistic is truly reflective of the prevalence of ASD across genders. Some argue that the way that we currently diagnose ASD is more tailored to the way that males commonly present their ASD, and females girls are under-diagnosed. Either way, it is certainly not true that females cannot be on the autistic spectrum.
All people with ASD have savant skills
Partly thanks to portrayals of people on the autistic spectrum in the media, such as Raymond from Rain man, and Shaun from the Good Doctor, there is a common belief that all people with ASD have savant skills, or special intelligence and abilities. Whilst the specific statistics on this are frequently debated, what is generally accepted is that these kinds of skills are actually quite rare; only around 10% people on the autistic spectrum are thought to have savant abilities.
Everyone with ASD is alike, and has the same symptoms
Autism spectrum disorders are just that; a spectrum. This means that while some people with ASD may share common traits or behaviours, people on the autistic spectrum can (and do!) still differ widely from each other in the presentation of their ASD. This misconception means that those who do not fall under the traditional and more overt categories of ASD may find it more difficult to get others to accept their diagnosis.
These are just a small handful of the myths that surround people with autism spectrum disorders in the general public today. Whilst they may seem small, they can cause real difficulty for people with ASD and their families when trying to access support and explain their diagnosis with others. It is important that we continue to address these myths so we can improve general understanding of ASD in the general public and thus aid acceptance of the condition.
Here at Psychology Chartered we are kick starting our new Autism service from February 2019 by welcoming Dr Helen Riley to our team. Please keep an eye on our website as more information about this service will be coming very soon!
References
Ambitiousaboutautism.org
Sharecare.com
Nimh.nih.gov
Autism.org
Ark.ac.uk
The national autistic society: think differently – act positively