10 MYTHS ABOUT AUTISM
"She called the girl stupid and then beat her."
My heart burned as I listened to my girlfriend's story.
It was about a 19-year-old girl she had met at a salon 2 weeks prior.
She described the girl as being withdrawn, not making eye contact, fidgeting, and not talking much. Bells began to ring in my head as I listened.
The girl was the daughter of the salon owner and had apparently been forced to help out at the salon because she was "useless at everything else."
Unfortunately, she failed salon work too.
"They hurled insults at her while she sat in the corner. Her eyes were down, and she stayed silent, and continued fidgeting."
My girlfriend went on to say she spoke up for the girl, and that it alleviated the bullying a bit.
That was the first time she went to the salon. The next time she went, the girl was nowhere to be seen.
When she asked, the salon owner frowned and spat out some insults about the absent girl before finally recounting several stories, one of which ended with her calling the girl stupid and beating her.
When my girlfriend finished retelling the story, I leaned back, sighed, and rubbed my chin.
"She probably has autism," I said. "She’s not stupid. She’s just different."
Though I am a health professional, my expertise lies predominantly in internal medicine. I am not a child psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist (yet). So maybe I am not qualified to make a diagnosis of autism.
That being said, all the signs in that direction.
Autism is not talked about much in Africa. If you ask, some people will tell you we have bigger problems. But whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, the reality remains: autism is real.
This is my attempt to raise awareness of the condition in my setting.
Here are 10 myths about autism.
FIRST A DEFINITION:
According to the National Institute of Mental Health Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people:
- Interact with others
- Behave
- Communicate
- Learn
Why neurologic? Because it involves the brain.
Why developmental? Because symptoms generally appear in the 1st 2 years of life.
MYTH #1: AUTISM IS RARE
We can get this one over quickly. No. Autism is not rare. According to the WHO, 1 in 100 children has autism. That's 1%. You're probably frowning and thinking about all the kids you know. Likely, nothing has ever stood out to about them. This leads me to the next myth.
MYTH #2: AUTISM IS THE SAME IN EVERYONE
Autism is a spectrum. It presents differently in everyone, but generally affects social behavior, communication and learning ability.
Here's a general overview of autism symptoms:
These are not rigid categories. They are just a guideline. Once again, it is a spectrum. Each individual with autism has a unique profile with their own strengths and challenges.
MYTH #3:PEOPLE WITH AUTSIM CAN'T LIVE INDEPENDENT LIVES
Hopefully, the last myth helped you realize that this is false. A good number of people with autism are able to live in society independently. They achieve this with varying degrees of difficulty. Here are some factors that influence the level of dependence a person with autism can achieve:
- Early Intervention and Support: Early access to therapies and resources, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and social skills training, can significantly improve outcomes.
- Individual Strengths and Interests: Many people with autism have unique skills and talents that can be nurtured into meaningful careers or hobbies.
- Support Systems: A strong network of family, friends, educators, and professionals can help individuals build the skills they need to thrive.
- Adaptability of Society: Inclusive workplaces, educational institutions, and communities play a crucial role in fostering independence by accommodating diverse needs.
And here is a list of famous autistic people (according to the internet):
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Tim Burton
- Sia
- Elon Musk
- Anthony Hopkins
MYTH #4: PEOPLE WITH AUTSIM ARE SAVANTS
You may have read the list at the end of the last point and thought, "Wow. People with autism are geniuses." As nice as that would be, it is not true.
2 terms are of importance here:
- Savant
- Aspergers
Savant Syndrome:
Savant is a word that evolved from the French word "sapere" which was used to describe someone who was learned or knowledgeable. It was adapted into English in the 18th century and carries the same meaning. Savant syndrome over time evolved to describe individuals with extraordinary abilities in certain areas despite cognitive or developmental challenges.
Savant syndrome can be occur in anyone but it is more commonly seen in autism than in the general population. It is thought to occur in 10% of individuals with autism.
Aspergers Syndrome:
Aspergers Syndrome is a type of autism that lacks significant delays in language development. It is much more common than Savant Syndrome, and individuals with Aspergers may not have Savant abilities at all.
I bring this up because many have confused Aspergers and Savant Syndrome. Aspergers is simply a type of autism with normal to above average intellectual functioning.
MYTH #5: PEOPLE WITH AUTISM DON'T FEEL EMOTIONS
Please do not call a child with autism stupid. In general, don't call any child (or anyone) stupid.
The belief that people with autism don't feel emotions is not only wrong, it is dangerous. People with autism process and express emotions differently, but they feel just like everyone else.
People with autism feel joy when they achieve something great. They feel anger and frustration in difficult times and situations. The issue is in identifying and articulating the emotions, but the emotions do exist.
Children learn how to express emotions by observing the nonverbal and verbal cues in others and mirroring them. People with autism do not recognize these cues and so do not mimic them. This can lead to others thinking they are distant, unfeeling, or uncaring. The opposite is true. They feel emotions the same way you do, if not more intensely.
MYTH #6: AUTISM IS CAUSED BY VACCINES
There is no evidence that points to this. All prominent health organizations refute this idea, but I bring it up because people still think it is true.
Autism is caused by a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Vaccines are not involved. Here are some articles to support that point.
American College of Physicians
MYTH #7: AUTISM IS CAUSED BY BAD PARENTING
Some parents held their breath when I mentioned environmental factors playing a role in autism. Bad parenting isn't one of those factors.
It is important to squash this myth because it can lead to guilt, shame, and confusion in parents of children with autism.
Parenting does have a role to play in autsim but that role is in learning how to take care of the child with patience and understanding. Parenting has no role in causing autism.
Parents of children with autism need to be encouraged and supported, not made to feel guilty over something which isn't true.
MYTH #8: AUTISM IS A CHILDHOOD CONDITION
Many people know asthma. They know it typically starts in childhood and becomes less severe as the individual ages. Some people import this idea to autism. That doesn't work. You can't age out of autism. It is a lifelong condition.
It is important to keep this in mind so care and support are provided to the person with autism at all stages in their life. Knowing this will also help us to make adult spaces more inclusive to autistic people (workplaces in particular).
MYTH #9: AUTISM IS MORE COMMON IN WHITE CHILDREN
I'm sure many people I know think this. Autism doesn't discriminate.
The misconception that it does stems from the underrepresentation of minority groups in autism research. This is being remedied and more and more articles are showing that autism is prevalent in all racial and ethnic groups.
Another reason for this myth is a lack of cultural awareness. It is easy to miss something when you are not looking for it. It is easy to attribute its features to other things such as "laziness", "stupidness" "madness" etc.
The exact prevalence of autism in Ghana is not known. I anticipate that changing though. More and more mental health professionals are being trained every year. There even now exists a center specifically for autism in Ghana:
The reported prevalence of Autism in countries similar to Ghana:
- Nigeria: 2.3%
- Uganda: 0.6%
- Egypt: 11.3%
MYTH #10: I CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP
You can. You're already doing it by reading this article. Educate yourself, and be kind to children who seem 'different' and are struggling. Advice (tactfully) that parents of such children take their child to professionals for assessment.
Having an official diagnosis can bring peace and rest to an individual who no longer has to worry and wonder why they are not like everyone else.
CONCLUSION:
I hope you have learned a lot and feel empowered to help someone. Let's change the narrative.
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