Myths About Autism
Let's bust some myths about Autism for
World Autism Acceptance Week
For more events, checkout the masterpost here
Myth - Almost all people with autism are male
Fact - While the male:female diagnosis ratio used to be quite high, 8:1 at one point in time, but now it's thought to be about 3:1. Girls do tend to have a more difficult time to get diagnosed and are more likely to need to wait until adulthood for a diagnosis.
We also need to consider the number of people who do not identify as male or female, people who are autistic are more likely to be gender fluid than neurotypical people.
Myth - Autism is a linear spectrum
Fact - There are many different traits or characteristics that relate to autism that someone can be strong in. One person can be strong in one, and week the other while for someone else this may be reversed. It's not accurate to say one person is more severely autistic than another based on a trait or two, and referring to autism severity in general is ignoring the strengths that come with autism.
[The Autism Spectrum is NOT linear, image with blocks in a line going from less autistic to very autistic The Autism Spectrum looks more like, image with 2 circles with 8 coloured segments each. The first circle has each segment fully coloured in, the second circle only partially. A key shows these represent social differences, interests, repetitions, sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, perception, executive functioning, other. Terms like "high functioning" and "low functioning" are harmful and outdated. - Autism-sketches]
Myth - Autistic people are anti-social
Fact - It's not uncommon for children with autism to need extra support with socialization. A loud party may be overwhelming to someone who struggles with fairly intense sensory input. Autistic people enjoy having friends and other relationships.
Myth - Autistic people struggle with learning
Fact - Someone with autism may have a separate learning disability, just as other people may have learning disabilities. In an appropriate learning environment many people with autism learn quite easily and some traits such as attention to detail can be beneficial with learning.
Myth - Autistic people can't live independently
Fact - We all need support with various things, and going back to the spectrum, what one person struggles with, another may not. Some autistic people live alone happily, others live with caregivers and can be independent in other areas of their life.
Myth - Everyone is on the autism spectrum
or
Everyone's a little autistic
(I actually have said the first statement on 7cups myself before, so am happy to redeem this now!)
Fact - While autism is a spectrum, it refers to how autism affects an individual, looking at the various factors. Someone without autism can also see where their strengths and weaknesses are with these factors, but having some similar traits does not make someone a little bit autistic. Someone either is autistic or isn't, but this can be complicated due to diagnosis difficulties.
๏ปฟDid you learn anything from these facts?
Are there any autism myths you would like to dispel?
Sources:
https://autisticandunapologetic.com/2019/03/16/is-everyone-on-the-autism-spectrum
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/largest-study-to-date-confirms-overlap-between-autism-and-gender-diversity/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28545751/
https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/autisms-sex-ratio-explained/
https://www.autistica.org.uk/what-is-autism/autism-myths-and-causes
@AffyAvo Thanks so much for posting this Affy, very interesting! I hope we can make a room discussion about this too!
@777Bre777 @Aileen1114117 @AllieSunshine @alwaysindigo @AmintaBlack @AuntieMymble @BecauseImBatman22 @CalmCoral @CandyRedApple2532 @CheeryMango @courageouslystronggirlll1997 @emotionalTalker2260 @Equinox56 @FlourishingDimensions @Happy900 @HealingBrokenWIngs @IceCream4IceCream @ItssssMJ @Ivy229 @jovialButterfly6752 @JustOneMoreEpisode @likewatersw @LovetoGod @Luchelle @magnifiedfaith @ManinblacK @MindfulListener82 @musicalHarmony @MusicLeigh @MyNameIsNicole @NikitaSm1l3s @ouiCherie @resourcefulPond1641 @Rhlexia520 @Rohitbhardwaj @roseMelody95 @ShatteredMentality @SleepyShyCat @SnorlaxFood @SpicyHeart @Star996 @sunshinegiraffe123 @thoughtfulGrapes1163 @tidyHickory3283 @VicK5123 @xandia @xoBeebosBubsxo @Yukihiko @affyAvo @Heather225
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@AffyAvo Great post and thank you for sharing!!!
@AmintaBlack
Hey!
@sunshinegiraffe123 hey Sun!
@AffyAvo
Wonderful post! I got to learn a lot about ASD. Thankyou.
@AffyAvo
I believe this is the image you wanted to add to help show that autism is not linear.
Thanks for this post Affy, it's always great to dispel some myths! ๐บ
I also found this set of images that illustrates this too, if you don't mind a longer read.
[images by Rebecca Burgess]
Love it ๐๐๐๐๐
@AffyAvo
Wow this list is great. I teach children with Autism and I'm also on the waiting list for an Autism Assessment myself. If I could add one, it would be:
Myth: Autistic people are not superheroes. Of course, there are many, many Autistic people with extraordinary talents, but there are also very talented neurotypical people. In movies and TV, I find that Autistic people often are portrayed as having extraordinary gifts. I don't think it's fair to put this stereotype on people who may not feel good enough themselves if they are not a 'superhero'. They might also be put down by others because they are not as 'gifted as they should be'. We are all human. We can't be perfect!
Fact: Autistic people are not a 'sob story' either. You do not need to assume that they are incapable. Just because someone may be able to do something that others deem as 'neurotypical', it doesn't mean that they are not Autistic or do not have daily struggles. Autism is a spectrum, people have different needs.
@AffyAvo
i got autism but donโt really understand what it means and only get diagnosed year ago even though every one tell later they know Iโm autistic anyways just never tell me think not important since already diagnose adhd and intellectual disability and stuff but parents didnโt get that autism stuff done until we move and need it get me more help with stuff but donโt understand really means and why different from other things I got diagnose
@AffyAvo, love this post!
@AffyAvo
Thank u for this, it was very informative
I think that it's also important to note that neurotypical people may experience some of these things too (there's overlap) but that the diffrence is that it's much more often/all the time for autistic people. Or maybe a person just doesn't like loud parties, but it isn't just not liking them for neurodivergent people it's a whole other experience