Autism 101
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) approximately 1 in 36 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD or just simply, autism). Autism is characterized by differences in social communication, in addition to repetitive or stereotyped behaviors or intense and/or fixed interests. This criteria must also be present across the lifespan to qualify for a diagnosis. The etiology of autism is currently unknown but it is probable that both genetics and environmental factors play a role. You may notice the word ‘spectrum’ included in the diagnostic label. This speaks to the fact that autism manifests differently in every person. Every autistic individual needs different levels of support, has different strengths, and different ways that autism influences their identity.
Now that we’ve discussed what autism is, let’s talk about what it’s not.
Common Misconceptions
Autistic people lack empathy. False.
This myth has pervaded the autism community for decades, and this particular myth can be traced back as early as the 1960s when a psychologist coined the term ‘autistic psychopathy’ to describe children on the spectrum. This narrative has the potential to negatively impact the autism community by creating false stereotypes and prejudices. Post 1960s research has conceded that the relationship between autism and empathy is much more nuanced. Recent research provided evidence against this narrative by conducting a qualitative study elevating the voices of autistic people surrounding this issue. Three themes emerged from the work:
The empathic experience is diverse. Rather than the pervading assumption of low-empathy across the board, there is much more variability in empathic experiences across the spectrum. While some participants endorsed feeling low-empathy, others felt they experienced ‘hyper-empathic’ states.
Empathy takes effort. Some participants noted that missing social cues, a common experience of autistic individuals, can make it difficult to experience empathy. This suggests that those with autism are not incapable of empathy—they simply miss social cues, a precondition for empathy, without which empathy is difficult to manifest.
Empathy is conditional. Some autistic participants in the study expressed that it is easier to empathize with close friends/family or other autistic individuals. This phenomenon has been expanded upon and coined the “Double Empathy Problem.” This theory suggests that non-autistic people have an equally difficult time empathizing with an autistic person’s experiences. This theory reframes the empathy problem from one of being unilateral in nature to instead being mutual and reciprocal. A recent study sought to test this hypothesis by having non-autistic adult participants watch video clips of autistic and non-autistic adults narrating an emotional experience they’ve had. Results showed that the non-autistic participants found it significantly harder to identify and understand the emotions of their autistic peers. This finding has significant clinical implications and highlights the importance of connecting autistic individuals with the greater neurodivergent community.
Autism is caused by childhood vaccines. False.
This myth began in the 1990s when Dr. Andrew Wakefield published a paper asserting that the measles vaccine caused autism. The popular press soon took hold of this assertion and the misconception flourished throughout the medical, political, and autism communities. In 2005, an investigative reporter alerted the public that Wakefield’s study was flawed and contained research misconduct, conflicts of interest, and probable falsehood. The research article was then retracted and medical governing boards took action against Wakefield. Since the publication of Wakefield’s article, dozens of scientific articles have been published disproving the etiological link between vaccines and autism. Despite a plethora of new evidence, the residue of this myth lingers throughout society—which thus signals the importance of increased advocacy and trust in scientific research.
Autism is a nuanced diagnosis and every individual is unique.
What’s next?
As noted above, autism is a nuanced diagnosis and every individual is unique. Follow along on our blog as we tackle all things autism including: autistic burnout, autistic meltdowns, gender differences and much more! Additionally, finding a therapist who understands the complexities of autism is crucial to quality care. If you or someone you know could benefit from counseling we encourage you to contact our office at (660) 236-2818 to find a therapist who is right for you! Below are local resources if you or someone you love is interested in being evaluated for autism.
Local Resources (Central Missouri)
Missouri Department of Mental Health - Missouri Autism Centers
https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/autism/centers
Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment
https://thompsoncenter.missouri.edu
Columbia Psychology Healing Center
https://columbiapsychology.com
ECHO Autism
https://echoautism.org
Cory Burton, PLPC