Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are some of the most commonly misunderstood social and behavioral disorders today. There are so many myths about autism swirling around that make it very difficult to understand what ASDs are really all about. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most common myths about autism that many people still believe today:
Myth #1: Autism is one single disability that can easily be identified with the same specific warning signs.
Truth: When you’re talking to someone who is familiar with autism, you might notice that they more often say the phrase “autism spectrum” instead of just “autism.” This is because autism varies quite a bit in terms of the symptoms that each individual experiences and in terms of how mild or severe these symptoms are.
Myth #2: Autism is an intellectual disability.
Truth: This myth could not be further from the truth! If you have a friend or relative with autism, you already know that this person’s intelligence level is just as high as any other person’s — and in many cases, it’s even higher. Individuals with an autism spectrum disorder often have exceptional intellectual abilities that others could only dream of; music and math, in particular, are two subjects where these individuals regularly outperform their peers.
Myth #3: Children with autism can “outgrow” their disability if given enough time.
Truth: No one simply “outgrows” autism. Early intervention is key because children can learn how to manage their symptoms (even when they don’t realize this is what they’re doing). Social skills and emotional awareness are two things that most of us never had to learn when we were young; making friends and detecting another person’s anger were always obvious and natural. With autism, these tasks aren’t so innate.
Myth #4: Autism can be “cured” with an intensive treatment program.
Truth: Again, autism isn’t something that you can “grow out of.” It’s not like a stutter or an infection; it won’t go away with therapy and it can’t be treated with medicine. The goal of an early intervention program is to teach children how to manage their symptoms; not how to rid themselves of the symptoms entirely.
Myth #5: Children with autism cannot feel love or empathy.
Truth: All three of these assumptions are very wrong; there’s no better way of saying it. Children on the autism spectrum actually tend to experience certain emotions more strongly than everyone else, and this can include love and empathy. Detecting another person’s emotional state isn’t always easy because it takes active assessment rather than subconscious collection. That being said, understanding others’ emotions is not impossible.
At Bankers Fidelity, we believe that it’s important to raise awareness about autism — and because April is National Autism Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to do so. We believe it’s our job to go beyond offering cancer care insurance and Medicare supplemental health insurance; we want to provide you with the resources you need to live a long and healthy life.
If your child, grandchild, niece, or nephew falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, we’d love to hear from you. What’s the one myth about ASDs that get under your skin every time? What’s the one myth that you yourself believed before you learned more about autism?
