Myths About Autism Spectrum Disorder

What is Autism? 

A person with autism may have difficulties thinking, feeling, interacting with others, and perceiving their surroundings. It is a disability that a person experiences throughout their entire life, from infancy until old age. Everyone with autism is different from everyone else. It is called a spectrum for this reason.

Myths about Autism Spectrum Disorder

There are numerous misconceptions and myths surrounding autism; however even though many autistic individuals face challenges, with the correct assistance, autistic individuals can attain a high quality of life.
 
The linearity of the autism spectrum is another fallacy. In reality, autistic individuals might exhibit a variety of traits in their abilities, communication, social interactions, leisure, and play, which can look more like a constellation.
 
Myth: Vaccinations result in autism
 
Not just ardent "anti-vaxxers" but several others wrongly think that immunisations can cause autism. Although this is a myth that is quite well-known, it is simply untrue.

Reality
 
The basis for this myth is a poor research paper that suggested a flimsy connection between vaccines and autism in the late 1990s and was published in a journal. In addition to not meeting scientific criteria. The experiment that was carried out was eventually utterly discredited as being deceptive, unreplicable, and unrepresentative of such a finding. In actuality, the doctor who conducted the study eventually had his medical licence revoked.

Myth: Autism is on the rise as a pandemic
 
This misconception is also widely spread. People believe that the prevalence of autism is increasing to the point. It may be referred to as "an epidemic." Even others whose language might not go this far nonetheless believe that autism is growing more and more common in today's youth.
 
Reality
 
Although false and deceptive, this myth at least makes sense in light of the fact that more people have been diagnosed with autism in the previous two or three decades. The fact that this is actually a result of better knowledge of autism spectrum disorder is something that this myth neglects to consider. The ability to diagnose autism has improved along with our understanding of what autism actually is over time. As a result, more people who may not have previously been diagnosed with autism are now getting the care and assistance they require. Many of these people have previously gone undetected and just been classified as socially awkward, insensitive, introverted, or a combination of all three.
 
Myth: All autistic individuals possess savant abilities.
 
Another widespread fallacy regarding autism is that all persons with it are savants, which has only been encouraged by popular culture products like the film Rain Man and the television programme The Big Bang Theory. A relatively rare disorder known as savant syndrome results in savant skills, which are unique and outstanding mental abilities. This could be connected to quick calculations, art, music, or memory.


Reality

It is not a myth that savant syndrome exists. It actually exists. The notion that ALL autistic people possess savant abilities is a myth. In actuality, hardly more than 1 in 10 (or 10%) of those with autism exhibit some form of advanced competence. Even among people who actually possess a "savant skill," the abilities themselves come in a wide range of forms and intensities. Autistic people frequently show highly narrow, intense interest in a single subject, sometimes to the exclusion of all else. This suggests that they may know more about the issue in question than the typical person.

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