By Sheena Lee, PA-C
The internet is a beautiful thing. Information is more accessible than ever! With a quick Google search, you now have access to thousands of articles, videos, social media posts, and other content. Just as easy as it is to find information, it’s just as easy to find misinformation —it’s a double-edge sword. While my job entails testing and diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder, a shocking amount of my time is spent combating what my clients hear, from TV shows to TikTok! So, let’s separate fact from fiction and debunk some of the most common myths I see in my practice:
Myth #1: “Autism Can Be Cured”
This one can be particularly discouraging for parents, and I get it—no one wants to hear that a condition is permanent. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that is present from birth and affects basic brain functioning. Although autism is not curable, there are many evidence-based treatments available that can dramatically improve the quality of life for an autistic person. The earlier a person is diagnosed, the sooner we can refer them for treatment.
Myth #2: “Autism is a Single Condition and the Same for Everyone”
A good way to conceptualize autism is to think of the color spectrum. When you think “blue,” you might be thinking about a light blue, baby blue, sky blue, aqua blue, or navy blue—there are so many shades of just one color! Likewise, ASD is a general way to describe a specific set of symptoms, abilities, and characteristics, and their variations. One person might have poor motor skills, while another can be a track star; no one person with autism is the same as another. They have their strengths and their challenges. In other words, there is no “look” for autism. It can be present in a million different ways.
Myth #3: “Being Nonverbal or Having an Intellectual Disability Means You’re Autistic”
This also falls under the category of myth! While some people who are autistic can be non-verbal or have intellectual disabilities, this is not representative of it. Many people who are diagnosed with ASD have average or above-average intelligence. Verbal ability can also be highly variable as some are very verbal while others may be non-verbal and rely on alternative forms of communication.
Myth #4: “Vaccines Cause Autism”
I cannot begin to tell you how many scientific studies have disproven this myth, yet somehow it persists. The myth was based on a fraudulent study that was later discredited and officially withdrawn. Autism is a complex disorder caused by an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. There are ongoing efforts to research the causes of autism, but we can say for sure that vaccines do not cause autism.
Myth #5: “Autism Affects Boys More Than Girls”
Based on the historic records, there are more frequent cases of boys being diagnosed than girls; however, many researchers believe this was caused by girls presenting autism differently than boys. Symptoms were more noticeable in boys than in girls, which led to boys getting diagnosed and girls getting underdiagnosed. This bias in diagnosis is believed to be caused by the prevalence of internal and external symptoms. Women are more likely to be social, which can mask the internal symptoms of autism, leading to the diagnosis flying under the radar.
Myth #6: “You’ll Grow Out of It”
Autism is a lifelong condition. Early intervention makes a difference, but the challenges that go hand in hand with ASD are lifelong. Attention should not be on “outgrowing” autism but on supporting and providing accommodations so that individuals with autism can reach their full potential. Hence, it is always better to start interventions and therapies to improve the person’s quality of life.
Myth #7: Poor Parenting Causes Autism
Autism is not caused by parenting style or neglect. I hate to see parents blaming themselves or other family members blaming the parents for their child’s diagnosis. While there is evidence for a genetic compoenent to autism, there is little-to-no evidence for parenting styles causing ASD.
Myth #8: “If They are Flapping Their Hands, They Are Autistic”
Have you ever seen someone flapping their hands and wondered if it means they have autism? This misconception is based on the diagnostic criteria of “repetitive behaviors.” Though, hand flapping is one form of repetitive behavior, it is not something that all individuals with autism do. Remember that color spectrum analogy I made earlier? The same applies here. Repetitive behaviors come in all shapes and sizes from rocking, spinning, or arranging objects in a particular order. Some behaviors are noticeable, while some aren’t. The main point here that just because someone doesn’t constantly flap their hands doesn’t mean they can’t be autistic.
