By: Koeun Choi
So let’s talk Autism. Most recent Center for Disease Control
stats tell us that 1 out of every 88 children has been diagnosed with autism,
with boys being 5 times more likely to be afflicted than girls. It reaches across all
race and socioeconomic groups, and tens of millions of people affected
worldwide.The United States alone has over 2 million people who have been diagnosed. The rate of
autism diagnosed has increased ten-fold in the past 40 years and in the recent
years alone, statistics suggest that it has increased 10-17%.* For something
that is so prevalent in society, Autism is unfortunately greatly misunderstood.
It probably doesn’t help that the Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD), more commonly called Autism, actually encompasses a wide range of
complex disorders of brain development.** Autism affects each individual to
different degrees. Think of the loveable TV show character Abed from Community
who is able to live independently, appears to be incredibly proficient in the
art of cinematography, and yet has difficulty interacting in the normal social
situations. Others may have difficulty learning languages, makes awkward
gestures such as flapping of the arms, and frequently throws tantrums in an
attempt to vent out feelings they cannot communicate to others. Generally, all
Autism disorders are characterized by difficulty in socializing, and tends
toward repetitive behaviors.
The stigma associated with Autism is greatly detrimental to
those afflicted and their families. And the stigma is worsened by the many
misconceptions of the disease, which brings about greater consequences. Here
are some common ones below:
Fiction: People can grow out of
their Autistic condition.
Fact: Unfortunately, there is no
cure for autism, nor does a child ever grow out of it. It is important to realize that the longer
parents wait for their children to get better without proper treatment, the
worse their condition becomes. However, there are many behavioral and
communication therapies that can help autistic children. Therefore, it is
imperative that they receive treatment as early as possible!
Fiction: Autism must have resulted
from some wrongdoing of the mother or of the parents during the pregnancy/early
years of development.
Fact: The truth is that nobody
is at fault. Although there is no definite cause of autism – scientific
evidence points to genetics, possible chemical prenatal exposure, the parental
age at conception, maternal nutrition, and infections during pregnancy and
early development. Blaming parents damges relationships and takes the focus
away from finding therapy for the loved ones affected by Autism.
Fiction: Vaccines, MMR Vaccines in
particular, cause Autism.
Fact: The study that first
sparked this claim was, if I may be frank, so not kosher on so many levels
(there will be more said about this in the future). There is no relationship between receiving
vaccine shots and the occurrence of autism. This myth is actually really
harmful because it dissuades many concerned parents away from getting their
kids flu shots, leading to multiple incidents of preventable childhood deaths.
And lastly, on a happier note…
Fiction: Autism shortens life spans.
Fact: With the proper support
and treatment, autistic children have the potential to lead long and healthy
lives.
*Note that the great increase may be compounded by the fact
that the methods of diagnosing autism has become more efficient
**For greater information on the different types of autism
disorders, please check out our fellow blog: http://www.humanologyproject.org/autism-as-a-disorder/
References
Center for Disease Control. 2013. “Data and Statistics.” Retrieved Sep 15, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html.
Autism Speaks. 2013. “What is Autism.” Retrieved Sep 15, 2013, from http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.
South Asian Autism Awareness Center. 2013. “Myths & Stigma.” Retrieved Sep 10, 2013, from http://saaac.org/about-autism/myths-stigmas/.
