Myth 1: Autism is caused by vaccines –
The biggest myth of all is that vaccines, specifically the MMR vaccine, cause autism. The safety of vaccinations has been repeatedly tested across large groups of people. High quality research studies involving hundreds of thousands of people have consistently shown that vaccinations do not cause autism.
Myth 2: Autistic people have a special talent –
We know a lot of parents and autistic adults get asked about this, and it can be frustrating. We all have strengths and weaknesses and autistic people are no different. Research suggests that around 28% of autistic people have special talents.
Myth 3: Autistic people have learning difficulties –
With the right support and a suitable environment, many autistic people are very able and independent. Around 1 in 4 autistic people speak few or no words, but they can find other ways to communicate. Some autistic people take longer to process information, but it doesn’t mean they don’t understand. Autistic people also have strengths over those without autism.
Myth 4: Autistic people are anti-social –
Autistic people may need support with social skills or interact differently with the world around them, but most autistic people enjoy having relationships. People show their social difficulties in different ways. Some are quiet and shy or avoid social situations, others speak too much and struggle to have two-way conversations. Unspoken communication can be confusing for autistic people – body language, tone of voice and sarcasm can be difficult for them to read. These challenges can make it difficult to make friends, build relationships or get on at work. Taking time to get to know autistic people and understand their differences in an environment where they are happy makes all the difference.
Myth 5: People with autism don’t feel emotion –
This myth is one that is particularly unfair and harmful for autistic people. Some people think that autism means that the person cannot feel emotion or cannot feel ALL emotions, and therefore have no interest or ability in fostering relationships with others or making friends.
This myth is simply not true. People with autism are completely capable of feeling all emotions. Due to the fact that autism can impact one’s ability to communicate and socially interact, this is often misinterpreted as being an expression of a lack of interest or inability in making connections and relationships. Autistic people can also struggle with interpreting other people’s emotions, body language and expressions, and understanding social nuances.
Myth 6: Autism can be completely cured –
Whilst autism is different for everyone, the majority of autistic adults and families that we speak to feel that autism is a big part of their life, and not something that they would take away. Autism is a complex condition that affects everyone differently, so we should focus our efforts on the treatments and therapies that will help in improving the quality of life.
Myth 7: Only boys are autistic –
Autism appears to be more common in boys. But girls are more likely to ‘mask’ their autism, learning the skills to interact with the world better than boys. This can mean that many autistic girls get a diagnosis much later in life than boys.
Myth 8: Autism is caused by bad parenting –
Autism is not caused by bad parenting. Research has proved that parenting is not to blame. We are funding studies at the moment to support parents and help them better understand autism. This approach can improve an autistic child’s communication skills. Parenting style can certainly help an autistic child to cope with the world, but it is definitely not the root cause of autistic behaviour.
Myth 9: Autism is a disease-
One common misconception among the myths about autism is that it is a disease. This is not true.
Myth 10: People with autism don’t feel emotion –
This myth is one that is particularly unfair and harmful for autistic people. Some people think that autism means that the person cannot feel emotion or cannot feel ALL emotions, and therefore have no interest or ability in fostering relationships with others or making friends.
This myth is simply not true. People with autism are completely capable of feeling all emotions. Due to the fact that autism can impact one’s ability to communicate and socially interact, this is often misinterpreted as being an expression of a lack of interest or inability in making connections and relationships.