Society's misconceptions about autism... Shall we find out the truth?

You may have heard that someone around you, or someone you know, has a child with autism. At the same time, you may have heard many stories and misconceptions about this spreading in society. Some are afraid, while others speak out against these children. So what exactly is autism? Today, let's talk clearly and precisely about the misconceptions that have been built around this condition, and what is the truth.

First of all, what is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Simply put, autism is not a disease. It is a developmental condition caused by changes in brain development and function . As a result, a child or adult with autism may have difficulty learning information, interacting with others in society, and seeing the world differently than others.

It's called a "spectrum" because, like the colors of the rainbow, the symptoms, abilities, and challenges people with the condition vary greatly. That means no two people with autism are the same.

Okay, so now let's look at the main myths prevalent in society and whether they are true or not.

Misconception 1: Autism only affects boys

This is completely wrong. Autism can affect girls too. However, according to statistics, boys are diagnosed with autism about four times more often than girls.

There are several reasons for this. One is that when girls have this condition, their symptoms may present differently than boys. Sometimes their social behavior changes can be mistaken for other conditions, such as shyness or anxiety. As a result, some girls may be delayed or missed in diagnosis.

Misconception 2: Everyone with autism has the same symptoms.

This is also a misconception that many people have. As we said before, autism is a spectrum. Think about it, not all children in the same class are equally talented. Some are good at math, others are good at drawing. That's how it is with this situation.

Some people with autism may have difficulty speaking, while others are very fluent. Some need help with everyday tasks, while others live completely independently. That's why experts say:

That means that the entire autism community cannot be measured by one person's experience. That's why the name of the condition was changed to `` Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)'' in 2013, to more accurately reflect this diversity.

Misconception 3: People with autism have severe intellectual disabilities or extraordinary talents.

This is also a myth that goes both ways. Some people think that everyone with autism has intellectual disabilities. Others think that they have extraordinary abilities, like in the movie 'Rain Man', such as a photographic memory or extraordinary musical talent.

The truth is, these are two extremes. Some people with autism may have intellectual disabilities, but the majority do not . They may have average or above-average intelligence.

On the other hand, savant skills are very rare . There are people with such abilities, but they are not common. The majority of people with autism have normal abilities.

Myth 4: Vaccines cause autism

No. This is the biggest and most dangerous myth in society. Even the first study published that suggested a link between vaccines and autism was later proven to be a fraud and was retracted from the journal that published it. Since then, thousands of studies conducted around the world have not found a link between vaccines and autism.

Never skip essential vaccinations that your child should receive under the National Immunization Program, believing such baseless stories. If you do, the potential harm to your child from dangerous diseases like measles and mumps is much greater. If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinations, please speak to your family doctor.

Misconception 5: The increase in autistic children is due to some environmental factor.

It's true that the number of children diagnosed with autism is higher now than it used to be. But rather than the main reason for that being a change in environment, two other factors have played a role.

1. Expanding the diagnostic criteria: In the past, conditions like `Asperger's syndrome` were considered separate disorders. Now, they are all under the umbrella of ` Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).` Therefore, the number of diagnoses has increased.

2. Increased awareness: Parents, teachers, and doctors are now more aware of this condition. As a result, even children with subtle symptoms that were previously undetected are now being identified more quickly.

Misconception 6: Autism is only diagnosed at a young age.

This is also changing. While many people are diagnosed at a young age, the number of people diagnosed with autism as adults is also increasing.

This is because, in the past, there was a lack of knowledge about this, and some people's symptoms were misdiagnosed as other conditions. For example, they may have been treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety. But with the improved understanding, the underlying cause of those symptoms is now often diagnosed as autism in adulthood.