Myths and Misconceptions
Let's dismantle some of the most common and harmful stereotypes about autism.
Myth 1: Only boys have autism
ASD is about 4 times more common in boys than girls, but that doesn't mean that autistic girls don't exist! The girls that are diagnosed usually have more severe symptoms, which may be because girls with ASD are being overlooked by caregivers and healthcare providers. Some evidence suggests the gap in diagnoses rates between girls and boys is because doctors should be using different diagnostic criteria for girls than for boys to take account of gender variations in symptoms. These variations may be due to the affect of gender on societal expectations and influence on female behavior. Click below to read more.
Myth 2: Autism is caused by vaccines
Let's get this out there: Autism is caused be genetic and environmental factors, and is in no way, shape or form caused by vaccines! The paper that suggested the link between ASD and components in vaccines was fraudulent and has been disproved and withdrawn from publication. Seriously, vaccination are important and good. Click below to learn more.
Myth 3: People with autism can't feel empathy and don't want friends
This is a very harmful stereotype. People with autism definitely feel emotions and desire social connection, but their atypical understanding and expression of those feelings can often get in the way of them showing their empathy or friendliness. Because autism often makes it hard to spot and understand non-verbal behaviors, autistic people can struggle with recognizing what a person is feeling, which can make social situations confusing and stressful. This is why it is very important to communicate with autistic people clearly and have patience. Click below to read more.
Myth 4: Kids with autism can't learn, be successful, or grow up to be independent
Each individual on the autism spectrum is unique. Some many never be able to function in a school or work environment, while others can be independent and successful. Many people with autism grow up and have lives very similar to everyone else's with a college degree, romantic partner, hobbies and job, except maybe they avoid parties and sleep with a weighted blanket to manage symptoms. Most people with autism have splinter-skills or areas of extreme interest, which they can utilized as their field of study or profession when they grow up. It is also true that there are many autistic adults who require full-time specialized services and will never be independent. Click below to read more about how children with ASD manage the transition to adulthood.
Myth 5: Most people with autism have savant abilities (Like in Rain Man)
While savant abilities are more common among those with
autism than neurotypical people, only about 10 percent of individuals with autism have savant abilities. What is more common is called “splinter skills,” meaning skills in one or two areas of interest that are above average abilities such as music, art, computers, athletics, and more.
Myth 6: Autism is caused by bad parenting
In the 1950s, there was an assumption that autism was caused by emotionally distant parents, especially the mothers who were coined "refrigerator mothers." Though the exact cause of autism is not completely determined, it is firmly established that parenting style has nothing to do with the prevalence of ASD. Click below to read more about how mothers in particular were blamed for autism.
Myth 7: Autism is a modern epidemic
The CDC estimates the prevalence of ASD has almost tripled in the US since 2000, but it is important to note the increase is largely associated with changes in the increased awareness, scientific understanding, and vigilance in the medical community about autism. An aging reproducing populating may have caused a minor increase in prevalence, but otherwise there is no tangible evidence that there is any modern environmental factor that might account for the increase in autism rates. Click below to read more about the rising ASD prevalence.