About ASD
MYTHS
Emotions
People with autism are thought to not have emotions. That is not the case, while they struggle to sometimes understand what they are feeling they still have the emotions everyone has, however, due to confusion it may show as anger or sadness. They also often seem to not show any emotions as well, but they just have a “neutral” look and just don’t show how they are feeling.
​
“high-functioning” vs “low-functioning”
Having autism isn’t as simple as being “high-functioning” and “low-functioning”. It’s called a spectrum for a reason. People often see the two extremes and think certain people represent autism, especially in media meaning those that don’t hit either side of the spectrum don’t get the support because people don’t understand.
Asbergers
The term Aspergers while it isn’t officially diagnosed anymore is still used by people. The diagnosis was named by and after the Nazi scientist Hans Asperger which was used as a way to differentiate between the previously mentioned “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” and a way to know if they should be sent to be killed or sent to a work camp.
​
Day-to-day ability
As with other mental health conditions, our limits are different day to day. While they may be able to handle something out of their comfort zone one day, doesn’t mean they will be able to do it the next day. This is even more so when you add Anxiety and depression into the mix. They might have a good day and be able to do more, and for no obvious reason, they can have a bad day the next day meaning they can’t do as much.
​
It is who they are
People who have autism would be a different person without it. There is no “cure” that others claim to seek out. It is something born with. Being diagnosed isn’t the difference between having it or not, even if you choose to not get diagnosed if you have it you have it. It is a part of you.
It lasts for life
While Autism most often gets diagnosed as a child. It isn’t a childhood thing. If you have Autism you have it for life. Often you get support as a child but unless you are on one of the extreme sides you get left in the open by Adult support services. And because of this, it is hard to be employed as an adult as people consider you too “normal” for support but don’t want you for your struggles. You often don’t get the chance as you are often forced to be in a new strange room, wearing uncomfortable clothing face to face in a stressful situation with a person or people that decide if you get the job or not, even if you can do it, this stops you getting it.
Girls get it too
While males are in the majority of being diagnosed females have Autism too. Their Autism shows different from males and as most research is based on males it gives diagnosing females a disadvantage.
​
Not everyone is a genius
Media often portrays people with Autism to be a geniuses in a certain hobby, such as Chess or maths. But that is actually rare. Yes, autistic people do have obsessions in which they may develop their skills, but these often change, they can go a month just doing one thing, then lose interest and find something else.
what causes it?
Scientists are still unsure where Autism comes from, various people have different ideas but it is a fact vaccines do not cause Autism. There are Theories such as the age gap between parents, or genetics but no one knows for certain.