Common Misconceptions about ASD

Myth #1: Individuals with Autism are Emotionally Dead

• Misconceptions:
  • They have no ability to empathize or sympathize.
  • They don’t know how to feel.
  • They could not understand or comprehend any emotions –rendering them unable to express any.

• The Truth:
  • It’s false to think that they don’t care at all. They just can’t perceive other people’s emotions properly.
  • The TRUTH is they CAN still comprehend all sorts of emotions! That is… –only in very different and peculiar ways
    • They simply require a more direct and more personal way of communicating it
    • Using communication with signs (like tone of voice, or sarcasm, or body language, or other external means) would most likely result into miscommunication.

Myth #2: Individuals with Autism won’t ever have a social interaction ability

• Misconceptions:
  • Children with autism do not want to make any friends.
  • They are naturally unrestrainedly aggressive and violent.

• The Truth:
  • They want to make friends, but it’s just way too hard when ASD serves as a very big communication impediment due to sensory and motor deficits.
    • They may seem shy and unfriendly, but all there is to it is simply the very condition that they are in. You need to understand that they just don’t communicate and think the way normal people do.
  • Describing autistics as aggressive and violent is an extreme overstatement. It is unfair to quickly conclude that these special children have a violent nature –just because they constantly manifest appropriate behaviors
    • You need to understand that for a person no matter what age –to lack the ability to properly communicate their thoughts, emotions, and desires to other people, especially those close to them, is absolutely frustrating –and this constant frustration would normally force these children to misbehave very aggressively.
    • Being unable to further express their feelings is devastating.
  • Nope, they definitely don’t have any malevolent intent.

Myth #3: All Individuals with Autism are Typically The Same

• Misconceptions:
  • All autistics are the same.
  • They all have the same desires, characteristics, behaviors, tendencies, and level of intellect (IQ).
    • Therefore they must all be treated the same.

• The Truth:
  • No! Not at all… Just like normal people we all have different personalities.
  • Autism is NOT a personality
    • This means one person or child with autism doesn’t necessarily have the same characteristics and personalities with another autistic child.
    • They have different capabilities and limitations –therefore each one should still be treated differently.
  • Even the IQs vary. Even though it may be hard and inaccurate to measure theirs, but Autism is NOT an intellectual disability!
    • Over the years, some autistic children even showed they can still have extreme IQ and tremendous talent! Leading us to our 4^th myth…

Myth #4: Individuals with Autism have Specially Advanced Abilities

• Misconceptions:
  • If an autistic child lacks so much in their EQ and social skills, perhaps they make it up with immense IQ and savant talents and abilities! Right?

• The Truth:
  • No, just because a kid lacks social and communication skills doesn’t always mean that he has to be extremely good in a certain skill.
  • While there are some cases where an autistic kid shows exceptional abilities in arts or music, or incredible memory and intellect –the majority don’t have any special skill of any sort.

Myth #5: Autism Originates from Bad Parenting

• Misconceptions:
  • Autism is just another odd quality during childhood that people can grow out of eventually.
  • Autism is all in the mind.

• The Truth:
  • This can be life long neurological condition HOWEVER we can help stop the regression and this is RECOVERABLE.
    • One does not simply grow out of ASD. That’s not how it works.
  • It’s not ONLY about mental health. Research has shown that ASD is associated with multiple immunologic, integumentary and gastrointestinal disorders. This shows that there could be an even deeper case to study about its roots.

Myth #6: Autism is All-In-The-Mind and Autistics Could Easily Grow Out of it

• Misconceptions:
  • Autism is just another odd quality during childhood that people can grow out of eventually.
  • Autism is all in the mind.

• The Truth:
  • This can be life long neurological condition HOWEVER we can help stop the regression and this is RECOVERABLE.
    • One does not simply grow out of ASD. That’s not how it works.
  • It’s not ONLY about mental health. Research has shown that ASD is associated with multiple immunologic, integumentary and gastrointestinal disorders. This shows that there could be an even deeper case to study about its roots.

Myth #7: Autism is a life-long disorder, irreversible and is Likely Untreatable

• Misconceptions:
  • Autism is a lifelong disorder and is irreversible
  • Autism is an untreatable condition.

• The Truth:
  • It’s true that children can’t simply grow out of ASD. However, ASD is NOT untreatable. There have been many cases where children with ASD made very significant improvement in their communication and behavior living like a neuro-typical individual. A certain individual can live with this diagnosis however can be free from any manifestations of the disorder and live a normal, productive, and happy life!
  • But in order to achieve such success, it’s important for them to be given with the right treatment and provided with proper medical care and appropriate ancillary support and services.

Conclusion

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