A lot of people who don’t have a family member who is dealing with autism are not sufficiently informed about what autism is, and that makes a lot of people ignorant about this issue, but an even worse situation is that they are wrongly informed. Therefore, this list contains denials of some of the most common myths about autism and additional reasons that everyone should know for the better functioning of the community.
Autism is not mental retardation
Many people who do not know how to describe a condition very often associate it with another condition that they consider to be similar, which, in this case, is quite different. Autism and mental retardation are two different neurological disorders that should be separated. With autism, the problem arises with difficulties in social interaction, difficult communication, and behavior, while mental retardation leads to cognitive difficulties such as memory and learning. Even when it is necessary to diagnose the condition, two completely different and independent approaches are used to determine which group it belongs to. Also, the therapies used in both cases are different, and all this is proof that mental retardation and autism are not the same thing.
People with autism can form bonds
People suffering from autism indeed have social obstacles and difficulties in communication and behavior, but this is still not a sufficient obstacle for them to create strong bonds between themselves, family, friends, and others. People with autism can become very attached to certain people who are there for them and also love a celebrity, as well as have a favorite singer or actress. Every relationship is extremely important to them, and it gives them the feeling that everything is in order and that they belong to someone. These things prove that the myth that people with autism cannot form relationships is incorrect and that it would be desirable for each person in the community to try to communicate with a person with autism in their specific way and feel the love and connection that can be easily created between both parties.
People with autism speak
This is another myth that is not true, and here’s why. There are different spectrums of autism, and one spectrum is that which does not allow people with autism to develop speech skills. The vast majority of people with autism do not have major problems with speech, and it varies a lot. Some people can speak perfectly and grammatically correctly, as shown by autism research statistics, while some people with autism can speak slowly or use only a certain number of words. Some may only have a problem with articulation, while others may use other forms of communication, such as sign communication, gesticulation, or the use of technology. The influence on the speech development of a person with autism can be due to many different factors, such as the severity of autism, the cognitive abilities of therapeutic support, or the language environment.
People with autism can live an independent life
Support for people with autism is extremely important, both for them and for those who help, because it can have many positive effects for both parties. However, depending on the severity of autism, many people who have it can live independently without any difficulties. What is necessary for this to happen is for an expert to determine whether a person with autism is ready for an independent life, and that comes after the test and the education of the person with autism, who will adequately learn everything they need as well as provide an adequate way. In these lessons, it is necessary to train such people about the importance and maintenance of safety in the home they live in and that if there are mobility impairments, their home must be adequately equipped and have all the prescribed elements with which a person with autism will move without problems. The support of the community is also very important, as it can help in many ways, thereby understanding the essence and developing mutual support and positive energy in that community.
It’s not a child’s disorder
The lack of information about a large number of people makes many think that autism is a disorder for children and that there are no people with autism who are older. This is, of course, not true. The truth is that autism is diagnosed in childhood because it is noticeable from an early age, but it follows a person with autism for the rest of their life because it is a permanent disorder. Autism appears in the early stages of brain development, and the brain changes during life, so some people can mask their autism with other abilities, while others can be more open about it. This means that for now, autism is not curable, but some methods empower the person who has it to develop many abilities that will help them have a more productive life.
People with autism have empathy
In the same way that a bond can be created between people with autism, empathy also develops without problems. The reason why there is a myth that people with autism do not have empathy is because of their difficult way of communicating and interacting with people. This is proof that not everyone develops empathy in the same way and that it does not have to be only the sad face of people; the crying can be quite hidden in people. People with autism can be very empathic, and this can be easily noticed by getting to know them better.
There are talents everywhere
Talents are widespread among everyone, so it did not escape people with autism. A simple search on the internet can reveal that people with autism have many talents, such as singing, playing, dancing, and many others. Some people with autism have developed above-average intelligence, which can often be expressed. The talents they have are on a wide spectrum and are also revealed by getting to know people with autism better.
One of the key points to break prejudices is adequate information, which, in this case, this list represents. In addition to information, getting to know people with autism will lead to even better understanding and maybe even new friendships
