Common misconceptions
Perspective, "a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something." Certain perspectives can be formed by many things, such as social media, life experiences, hardships, and education, or lack of education. Those perspectives then influence the way people behave because they have preconceived ideas of what is right and what is wrong. Autism is perceived very differently by different people. Here are the most common myths about autism according to PBS and the Autism Support Network.
Myth: Autistic People Are All Alike
No two people with autism act or think the same way. The only thing almost all people with autism have in common is a struggle with social communication.
Myth: People With Autism Cannot Feel Or Express Love Or Empathy.
Most people with autism are actually quite capable of feeling empathy and expressing love, in fact many are far more empathetic than the average person, they just express their empathy in different ways.
Myth: People With Autism Have No Language Skills
While people with a classic autism diagnosis are sometimes non-verbal or nearly non-verbal, autism is a spectrum. Many people who are higher functioning are extremely verbal individuals with very high reading skills. Diagnoses at the higher end of the spectrum are increasing much faster than diagnoses at the lower end of the spectrum.
Myth: Autism Is Caused By Vaccines.
There is no evidence to suggest that vaccinations cause autism. A 1998 study linking autism with vaccines has since been retracted. While scientists are still not sure exactly what causes autism, genes are likely one of the greatest causes. According to PBS, parents whose first child has autism are more likely than the general population to have a second child with autism. Identical twin studies have shown that if one twin has autism, the other has a 90 percent chance of having autism as well.
Myth: People With Autism Don't Build Relationships
While people with autism often lack basic social skills, they often form solid relationships with select people, such as close family members. Many also build strong friendships through shared passions. People who are more high functioning are often able to live alone, get married and get job
Myth: All People With Autism Are Savants
A common stereotype is that people with autism have amazing “savant” abilities, such as extraordinary math skills or musical skills. While it is true that a few autistic people are “savants.” These individuals have what are called “splinter skills” which relate only to one or two areas of extraordinary ability. By far the majority of people with autism, though, have ordinary or even less-than-ordinary skill sets.
All of these misconceptions were formed from the lack of education people receive about autism. Next time you have a conversation with someone who has autism, don't be quick to judge based on who you think they are because no one likes to be stereotyped.
Myth: Autistic People Are All Alike
No two people with autism act or think the same way. The only thing almost all people with autism have in common is a struggle with social communication.
Myth: People With Autism Cannot Feel Or Express Love Or Empathy.
Most people with autism are actually quite capable of feeling empathy and expressing love, in fact many are far more empathetic than the average person, they just express their empathy in different ways.
Myth: People With Autism Have No Language Skills
While people with a classic autism diagnosis are sometimes non-verbal or nearly non-verbal, autism is a spectrum. Many people who are higher functioning are extremely verbal individuals with very high reading skills. Diagnoses at the higher end of the spectrum are increasing much faster than diagnoses at the lower end of the spectrum.
Myth: Autism Is Caused By Vaccines.
There is no evidence to suggest that vaccinations cause autism. A 1998 study linking autism with vaccines has since been retracted. While scientists are still not sure exactly what causes autism, genes are likely one of the greatest causes. According to PBS, parents whose first child has autism are more likely than the general population to have a second child with autism. Identical twin studies have shown that if one twin has autism, the other has a 90 percent chance of having autism as well.
Myth: People With Autism Don't Build Relationships
While people with autism often lack basic social skills, they often form solid relationships with select people, such as close family members. Many also build strong friendships through shared passions. People who are more high functioning are often able to live alone, get married and get job
Myth: All People With Autism Are Savants
A common stereotype is that people with autism have amazing “savant” abilities, such as extraordinary math skills or musical skills. While it is true that a few autistic people are “savants.” These individuals have what are called “splinter skills” which relate only to one or two areas of extraordinary ability. By far the majority of people with autism, though, have ordinary or even less-than-ordinary skill sets.
All of these misconceptions were formed from the lack of education people receive about autism. Next time you have a conversation with someone who has autism, don't be quick to judge based on who you think they are because no one likes to be stereotyped.