Date post: | 07-Jan-2017 |
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Five common mythsabout Autism The SAILS Group
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 greatcare 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.
Autism
Myth1
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.
Myth2
People with autismcan’t understand or express
emotion
Emotions aren’t absent, but an autisticperson may have trouble
communicating and regulating them,and experience difficulty
reading them fromindirect 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 toexperience, express and sense emotions differently.
It’s important that this differencein emotional intelligence is
understood correctly, becauseindividuals on the spectrum can
be incredibly sensitive andempathetic. They just need help
bridging the gap betweenfeeling and expression.
Myth3
Autismis 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 tobe behavioral (ABA) therapy, which
allows individuals with autism the socialand communication tools they need to
live happy and healthy lives.
Be wary, because there havealso been many productstouted as cures, like the
Miracle Mineral Solution andChelation therapy. The FDAwarns that such productsand therapies are not only
unproven, but can beincredibly dangerous.
Myth4
People with autismall have "special abilities"
This includes photographic memory,extraordinary math talent or advanced
creativity.
Many people on the autism spectrum also haveabnormally high intellect in specific areas that
interest them.
Only ~10% of autistic people exhibitsavant abilities.
Autistic individuals often display keen attention to detailand precise technological skills but savant abilities arecertainly 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.
Autism
Myth5
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.
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