Biggest Misconceptions Regarding Autism
By: Jacob Voogd, LMFT
1. People with Autism don’t like other people
Simply stated, this is just not true. Social skills are like a videogame……. If every time you went to play a game and you ended up losing that game, eventually you would stop playing. For many people on the Autism Spectrum, experiences with socializing have been like the video game example. Their attempts have left them feeling defeated and incapable and to protect themselves from failure, have sometimes chose to socially isolate. However, given the proper opportunities and social skills support, many people with Autism learn to communicate more effectively and achieve greater success making them more likely to initiate conversations with other people!
2. Vaccinations cause Autism
WRONG! In fact, so wrong, the researcher who came to this conclusion is actually in jail for falsifying his data to support this hypothesis! Although there is a CORRELATION between vaccinations and Autism, this does not imply causality. It is much more likely that parents of children with Autism begin to notice that their children are not meeting neurotypical milestones around the same time that the round of vaccinations occur.
3. People with Autism are unaware of their surroundings
Since Autism is typically expressed through a communication deficit as one of the primary symptoms, people with Autism are sometimes “hyper-aware” of their surroundings as a means of controlling their environment. However, when neural dysregulation occurs, some people on the spectrum may appear as if they are unware of their surroundings. The best way to support someone who is dysregulated is to provide them a calming and quiet atmosphere while also engaging a coping skill (deep breathing, redirection, requesting a break etc.), and of course communiction with care and compassion! Also, be sure to utilize coping skills for yourself if you are supporting someone through dysregulation.
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