If you are the family member of a toddler with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you’re likely well-informed about its symptoms and implications. However, others in your child’s life—relatives, friends, and teachers—may not know much about ASD and so may make assumptions. It is frustrating when people have misconceptions, are judgmental, or offer unsolicited advice. Here are a number of the key things about autism to share with others and to clear up any misunderstandings.
1. Not All People With Autism Are the identical
Autism is termed a spectrum disorder precisely because it’s characterized by a broad range of symptoms and skills. People with autism may be high-functioning, low-functioning, or somewhere in-between. they’ll be very smart and verbal, or cognitively challenged and nonverbal. The most significant shared symptom among people with ASD is difficulty with social communication, like making eye contact, conversation, or understanding another’s perspective. people think that all autistic people are similar because most of them don’t know what autism actually is it’s easy to be fooled by the media into thinking that unusual autistic abilities, behaviors, or interests are literally universal among people on the spectrum. For better or worse, however, many of those don’t seem to be only universal—they are relatively rare.
While there are many folks with autism who have average or above-average IQs, in line with Autism Speaks: “An estimated 40% of individuals with autism are nonverbal, 31% of kids with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70) with significant challenges in daily function, 25% are within the borderline range (IQ 71–85).
Quite a few presentations of autistic people suggest that they’re unemotional, or unable to create loving relationships. They also suggest an absence of humor and empathy.
There are people on the spectrum who do seem to fall under these categories. Most, however, have strong emotions and emotional attachments; many are very funny, and most are a minimum of sympathetic if not empathetic. People with autism, however, express these qualities in idiosyncratic ways, so they will be hard to acknowledge.
2. There Is No Cure for Autism
There is no known cure for autism, nor do people “outgrow” it. Autism is a lifelong diagnosis.
Intensive early intervention may reduce ASD symptoms, and there are many effective treatments that address the sensory, behavioral, developmental, and medical symptoms of ASD. Depending upon the kid, certain treatments are more successful than others. People with autism can even learn coping skills to assist them manage their difficulties and even depend upon their unique strengths.
3. There Is No Known reason for Autism
No one knows exactly what causes autism. Researchers believe it should be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Pregnancy complications and parental age may increase risk.
The notion that vaccines or “bad parenting” cause autism has been widely debunked by the health profession
Vaccines don’t Cause Autism
4. There's No "Best" School for All Children With Autism
You may have heard of an exquisite “autism school,” or read of a baby doing amazingly well during a particular kind of classroom setting. While a given setting could also be perfect for a specific child, every child with ASD has unique needs. Decisions about the most effective style of education for a toddler with autism are generally made together by parents, teachers, administrators, and therapists who know the kid well.
5. People With Autism Have Feelings and Emotions
People with autism are capable of feeling and expressing love, though some do so in idiosyncratic ways. Most also are able to have close relationships, including romantic relationships. Research shows people with autism may struggle with cognitive empathy because they’re unable to acknowledge and name emotions supported facial expressions. Eye scan studies found people with autism tend to seem at the periphery of a face instead of listen to the eyes and mouth, where emotions are typically displayed.
However, while cognitive empathy is lower in people with autism, affective empathy—which relies on instincts and involuntary responses to the emotions of others—can be strong and overwhelming. In fact, newer research suggests that some people with autism may very well feel other people’s emotions more intensely.
6. Families managing Autism Need Help and Support
It is hard to ask others for support, especially if they misunderstand the character of autism. Therefore, one in every of the foremost important things to convey to family and friends is that having an autistic child is hard.
Even high-functioning autism is challenging—for the person diagnosed with it likewise as their family. For a family suffering from severe autism, existence may be overwhelming. If you feel stressed, you would like all the non-judgmental facilitate your can get from friends, relations, and repair provider
