Often, most people likely have little to no knowledge about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is common in the African black community. What these people have is mostly the idea of what ASD is and what they think it shows in a person.
There are several myths and misconceptions about this neurological disorder and one thing about myths is that they are not only misleading, they can cause harm to the people affected by them.
Health experts and relevant publications detail a few myths about ASD that people need to let go of:
Myth: Autism symptoms are all the same
Fact: Autism is a spectrum, which means there is variety in the severity of its symptoms. One autistic person will not show all signs and how intense or lowkey the symptoms also varies from person to person. The Cortica Care publication states that “Some autistic people may have a greater number of challenges, while others may have subtler differences. Skills and abilities can also vary widely. Every individual is unique, with their own strengths, challenges, and personality.”
Myth: Autistic people are cold and non-empathetic
Fact: According to Beaming Health, autism is often associated with a robotic, detached character, but it’s actually a spectrum of human emotions. It is stated that while some autistic individuals struggle with recognising and naming their feelings, they can empathise and love. “Many social situations rely heavily on reading cues like body language or facial expressions, which can be hard for autistic people. Autistic people may also become overwhelmed by the emotions of others, and may not know how to process the situation or help.”
Myth: Autism can be cured
Fact: Autism is a lifelong disorder with no cure, but evidence-based treatments include therapies and educational interventions, states Cleveland Clinic. “Instead of trying to cure autism, providers focus on helping children make independent developmental progress and they can make progress. The earlier a child is diagnosed with the condition, the earlier they’re able to receive interventions and support. They might not get better, so to speak, but their behaviours will change over time as they develop and respond to specialised care.”
Myth: Individuals with ASD are geniuses
Fact: Beaming Health explains that the connection between autism and intelligence is unclear, as autism is not an intellectual, learning, or cognitive disability but rather a neurodevelopmental disability. It is further stated that IQ tests and traditional intelligence measures are ineffective for autistic individuals, and some research suggests brain differences may make their cells smarter.” We need more research to figure out how (or if) autism and intelligence are related, but it’s incorrect to assume someone is intelligent or unintelligent just based on them being autistic.”
