Debunking the Myths About Autism

Autism is a topic you’ve likely encountered at some point.

This neurotype impacts how autistic individuals learn, socialize, and navigate the world.

Statistics vary based on the region, but roughly 2% of the population identifies as autistic in Canada, and extensive information and research about autism have significantly improved societal understanding of this neurotype.

Yet, despite its prevalence and the progress in research, several myths about autism persist.

An image that displays myths turning to facts to represent debunking 14 myths about autism in this blog

These myths can harm the autistic community and create barriers to accessing essential support like autism coaching or therapy .

At Blue Sky Learning, a team of neurodivergent-affirming therapists and coaches aims to debunk some of these myths in this blog.

Read on to discover more.

Myths About Autism

While our understanding, research, and definition of autism have improved over the years, there is still work to be done to debunk the myths.

Here are some of the common misconceptions about autism:

Autism is a mental illness.
Autism is caused by vaccines.
Autism has become an epidemic.
Autistic people can be cured.
Bad parenting causes autism.
Autistic people are more violent than the general population.
Autistic individuals are all savants.
Autistic individuals are antisocial.
Only boys can be autistic.
Autism is new.
Autism is only diagnosed in childhood.
Autism is caused solely by environmental factors.
Autistic people can’t stand to be touched.
Autism is a learning disability.

Myth: Autism Is a Mental Illness.

It’s more complicated than this. Autism does not qualify as a mental health condition. It’s a neurodevelopmental difference instead.

Similar to other neurodevelopmental differences, autism alters how the brain functions. For instance, the differences seen in ADHD and autism are evident in AuDHD.

Key brain areas related to learning, memory, emotional regulation, impulse control, and other functions may exhibit structural or functional differences.

Moreover, while autism is not a mental illness, it often co-occurs with mental health conditions like:

Anxiety
OCD
Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Bipolar Disorder

For instance, some research suggests that around 40% of autistic children and 50% of autistic adults experience an anxiety disorder.

Treatment for those with co-occurring mental health conditions should address the neurodevelopmental aspects of autism.

Myth: Autism is Caused by Vaccines.

The myth linking autism to vaccines originated from a discredited study by Dr. Andrew Wakefield in the 1990s.

He falsely claimed that MMR vaccines lead to a series of health issues that result in the development of autism.

This study was retracted due to its failure to meet scientific standards, and Dr. Wakefield ultimately lost his medical license.

Subsequently, research has shown no scientific evidence linking vaccines and autism.

Myth: Autism Has Become an Epidemic.

You may believe autism is an epidemic due to the substantial increase in diagnoses over the past 30 years.

However, this rise results from improved societal understanding of autism, which enhances professionals ability to diagnose autism.

Historically, many individuals who appeared socially awkward were not diagnosed as autistic. Early studies primarily focused on white, cisgender boys, making them more likely to receive a diagnosis and care.

For this reason, today, many autistic adults, especially women, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other marginalized groups, are being diagnosed as adults, despite having been autistic all along.

Myth: Autism Can Be Cured or Grown Out Of.

Many experts agree that autism is not something to be fixed or cured. There is currently no known cure for autism, nor is one likely to be discovered.

Instead, autism represents a neurodivergence—a different way of experiencing the world based on variations in how the brain is wired.

Moreover, many autistic individuals embrace their autism as a core part of their identity. Research indicates that 87% of autistic individuals prefer identity-first language, expressing their identity as “I am autistic.”

Consequently, experts and the autistic community regard autism as a difference rather than a disease that requires a cure or something one can outgrow.

Myth: Bad parenting causes autism.

This myth arises from a theory called the "refrigerator mother" theory, which emerged in the 1950s.

This outdated notion suggested that emotionally distinct or neglectful mothers traumatized their children so much that it caused them to develop autism.

Despite the debunking of this myth, this myth has caused significant distress for both parents and the autistic community.

Modern understanding acknowledges that autism stems from differences in brain development.

While the exact cause of autism remains unclear, parenting is not a contributing factor. Anyone can be autistic, regardless of where their parents fall on the parenting spectrum.

Myth: Autistic people are More Violent Than the General Population.

Media portrayals of autism can perpetrate the harmful myth that autistic individuals are violent.

This stigma hinders many autistic individuals from obtaining the support and accommodations they need.

In reality, aggression can result from sensory overload or emotional distress—experiences that can affect anyone.

Sensory overload and emotional distress may be more common in autistic individuals.

Though sensory overload and emotional distress may be more common among autistic individuals, they do not act violently out of malice nor pose an increased threat to society.

There is no conclusive evidence that autistic people are no more likely to be violent than allistic (non-autistic) individuals.

Myth: Autistic Individuals Are All Savants.

Savant syndrome describes a condition in which individuals possess exceptional cognitive abilities, such as extraordinary memory or mathematical skills.

Autistic individuals are generally depicted in many popular movies and TV shows as having savant syndrome.

These media representations, notably in films like Rain Man and shows like The Big Bang Theory, may lead to the misconception that all autistic individuals are savants.

In reality, only about 1 in 10 autistic individuals exhibit savant skills.

It's worth noting that many autistic individuals display deep interests in specific topics, which may cause others to confuse these special interests with savant abilities.

While those with special interests often develop exceptional knowledge in a particular area, sometimes to the exclusion of other topics, it differs from savant skills that reflect extraordinary cognitive abilities.

Myth: Autistic Individuals Are Antisocial.

This myth arises from societal norms about communication and interaction (neuronormativity).

People assume that autistic individuals should navigate the world like allistic people do.

However, autistic people have their own unique ways of engaging with the world. Furthermore, since autism exists on a spectrum, each autistic individual faces distinct challenges.

Some may indeed struggle with social interactions, including body language, eye contact, and emotional cues. Others may not experience such difficulties.

Regardless of their specific challenges, autistic individuals, like many other people, desire connection. They may prefer discreet forms of communication, such as text or email, rather than verbal communication.

Recognizing that a different communication style doesn't equate to antisocial behaviour is essential.

Myth: Only Boys Can Be Autistic.

Some research indicates that boys are diagnosed as autistic four times more often than girls, which may lead to the misconception that only boys can be autistic.

However, anyone, regardless of gender, can be autistic.

Historically, research focused on white, cisgender, straight males, leading to undiagnosed or misdiagnosed girls. Girls are more likely to mask their autism to fit into society, which can further complicate diagnoses.

There is growing consensus that professionals should apply different diagnostic criteria for girls.

Myth: Autism Is New.

The CDC estimates that 1 in 31 children in the United States is autistic today. This increase may lead some to mistakenly believe autism is a new diagnosis.

In reality, the increased understanding of autism has enabled more people to get diagnosed as autistic.

In addition, scientist Leo Kranner described autism in 1943, and the earliest description of an autistic child was developed in 1799.

There is no reason to conclude that autism didn’t exist long before these dates.

Historically, many individuals regarded as "different" might have been autistic, though technology was insufficient to identify them.

Myth: Autism Is only diagnosed in Childhood.

Autism is not confined to childhood and does not simply disappear with age.

While many individuals receive a diagnosis in childhood, autism is chronic, and many adults are diagnosed later in life.

Interestingly, the population of autistic adults surpasses that of autistic children in the UK, yet research on autistic adults remains limited.

We require additional research to better understand the unique challenges and supports necessary to autistic adults.

Myth: Autism Is Caused Solely by Environmental Factors.

Scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of autism. Current understanding suggests that autism likely results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Parents with one autistic child are statistically more likely to have another. Additionally, identical twins have a higher likelihood of both being autistic compared to fraternal twins.

Once diagnosed, environmental factors may also influence the severity of traits.

Myth: Autistic people Can’t Stand to Be Touched.

While you may have encountered an autistic individual who dislikes being touched, this preference varies widely across the spectrum.

No two autistic people are identical. Even if one autistic person doesn’t like being touched, many autistic people may desire physical affection, such as hugs and other forms of touch.