AGXStarseed
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One in 100 people in the UK have some form of autism, but experts say there are too many common misconceptions
Orbis Education and Care has given the ultimate 'myth-busting' guide to autism
Autism affects more than 700,000 people across the UK – but how much do we really know about the condition?
Much of the public’s perceptions of children and adults with autism come from media and pop culture which often perpetuates stereotypes.
To challenge these common misconceptions, experts have compiled the ultimate “myth-busting” guide.
The myth: Autistic people have extraordinary talents
The facts: This is a myth which has been commonly portrayed in the media through characters like Rain Man.
It’s true that many autistic individuals have very specific interests towards certain subjects and will subsequently learn a lot about a specific subject.
However, what is known as Savant syndrome – where an individual demonstrates prodigious abilities far above what is considered “average” – is relatively rare.
The myth: Autistic people are not creative
The facts: While one of the features of autism is a lack of social imagination, autistic individuals can often be very creative in other ways.
Many people with autism excel in the arts. In fact, art, music and drama therapy are widely used in the treatment and support of individuals on the autistic spectrum.
The myth: Only males are affected with autism
The facts: While autism does affect proportionately more males than females – approximately four to one – it does occur in both sexes.
The myth: Autism is a mental health condition
The facts: Autism is a neurological condition. Studies of individuals with autism have revealed abnormalities in both brain structure and neurological transmitters.
The myth: People with autism cannot develop personal relationships
The facts: Although people with autism can struggle with social situations, this assumption is entirely untrue.
Personal relationships are just as important to people with autism as they are to everyone else.
Building friendships, relationships and social interaction are all possible for people with autism.
The myth: Autistic people hate loud noises
The facts: It’s true that some autistic individuals can be overwhelmed by sensory input such as loud noises, strong smells, tastes and textures.
However, other autistic people actually enjoy heightened sensory experiences due to having underdeveloped senses.
The myth: Autistic children are naughty and have tantrums
The facts: Often in the media, autistic children are portrayed having meltdowns and tantrums.
These behaviours are not the child “being naughty” or “misbehaving” but are often as a result of anxiety, sensory issues or frustration.
These behaviours can be prevented and even eliminated completely through the use of positive behavioural support, or PBS, which involve structured routines and improving an individual’s communication skills.
The myth: People with autism don’t feel any emotion
The facts: Many people with autism feel emotions intensely and can be overwhelmed by the emotions of those around them.
The myth: Childhood vaccinations causes autism
The facts: A paper written by Andrew Wakefield in 1997 linked autism to childhood vaccinations and caused widespread concern with parents.
This paper has since been completely discredited and there have been a number of medical studies since the publication of the paper that have debunked the original theory.
Nobody knows the exact cause of autism currently, but there is a genetic link and people with one child who has autism are more likely to have another also affected by the condition.
The myth: All people with autism have the same symptoms
The facts: There’s a reason why autism is called a “spectrum condition” as autism ranges dramatically in its severity and in the range of symptoms displayed, with different people exhibiting different combinations of traits.
Each person with autism is affected in a diverse way, so the support each autistic person receives needs to be tailored specifically to suit them.
SOURCE: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/ultimate-myth-busting-guide-autism-9795383
One in 100 people in the UK have some form of autism, but experts say there are too many common misconceptions
Orbis Education and Care has given the ultimate 'myth-busting' guide to autism
Autism affects more than 700,000 people across the UK – but how much do we really know about the condition?
Much of the public’s perceptions of children and adults with autism come from media and pop culture which often perpetuates stereotypes.
To challenge these common misconceptions, experts have compiled the ultimate “myth-busting” guide.
The myth: Autistic people have extraordinary talents
The facts: This is a myth which has been commonly portrayed in the media through characters like Rain Man.
It’s true that many autistic individuals have very specific interests towards certain subjects and will subsequently learn a lot about a specific subject.
However, what is known as Savant syndrome – where an individual demonstrates prodigious abilities far above what is considered “average” – is relatively rare.
The myth: Autistic people are not creative
The facts: While one of the features of autism is a lack of social imagination, autistic individuals can often be very creative in other ways.
Many people with autism excel in the arts. In fact, art, music and drama therapy are widely used in the treatment and support of individuals on the autistic spectrum.
The myth: Only males are affected with autism
The facts: While autism does affect proportionately more males than females – approximately four to one – it does occur in both sexes.
The myth: Autism is a mental health condition
The facts: Autism is a neurological condition. Studies of individuals with autism have revealed abnormalities in both brain structure and neurological transmitters.
The myth: People with autism cannot develop personal relationships
The facts: Although people with autism can struggle with social situations, this assumption is entirely untrue.
Personal relationships are just as important to people with autism as they are to everyone else.
Building friendships, relationships and social interaction are all possible for people with autism.
The myth: Autistic people hate loud noises
The facts: It’s true that some autistic individuals can be overwhelmed by sensory input such as loud noises, strong smells, tastes and textures.
However, other autistic people actually enjoy heightened sensory experiences due to having underdeveloped senses.
The myth: Autistic children are naughty and have tantrums
The facts: Often in the media, autistic children are portrayed having meltdowns and tantrums.
These behaviours are not the child “being naughty” or “misbehaving” but are often as a result of anxiety, sensory issues or frustration.
These behaviours can be prevented and even eliminated completely through the use of positive behavioural support, or PBS, which involve structured routines and improving an individual’s communication skills.
The myth: People with autism don’t feel any emotion
The facts: Many people with autism feel emotions intensely and can be overwhelmed by the emotions of those around them.
The myth: Childhood vaccinations causes autism
The facts: A paper written by Andrew Wakefield in 1997 linked autism to childhood vaccinations and caused widespread concern with parents.
This paper has since been completely discredited and there have been a number of medical studies since the publication of the paper that have debunked the original theory.
Nobody knows the exact cause of autism currently, but there is a genetic link and people with one child who has autism are more likely to have another also affected by the condition.
The myth: All people with autism have the same symptoms
The facts: There’s a reason why autism is called a “spectrum condition” as autism ranges dramatically in its severity and in the range of symptoms displayed, with different people exhibiting different combinations of traits.
Each person with autism is affected in a diverse way, so the support each autistic person receives needs to be tailored specifically to suit them.
SOURCE: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/ultimate-myth-busting-guide-autism-9795383
