What is Autism

The definition of Autism has evolved throughout time. It is often

referred to as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Autistic

Spectrum Condition (ASC) or Asperger's syndrome. It has also

been referred to as Childhood disintegrative disorder and

Pervasive developmental disorder. The clinical definition

defined within the UK's diagnostic manual (DSM-5) defines it as

the collective term 'Autistic Spectrum Disorder'. There are

numerous debates regarding the definition and varying

opinions on what the correct term is.

So, what is autism? The DSM-5 states that "persistent

difficulties with social communication and social interaction"

alongside "restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviours,

activities or interests" present since early childhood, to the

extent that these factors "limit and impair everyday

functioning".

However, Autism affects people differently, therefore there it is

not a 'one size fits all' term. This ultimately leads to

misconceptions about Autism which can be damaging not only

to autistic individuals, but to society's attitude towards Autism

too.

Misconception one: Vaccines cause Autism

One popular misconception about Autism is that vaccines cause

Autism. This theory originates from a study in 1998 by Dr

Andrew Wakefield which suggested that the Mumps, Rubella

and Measles vaccine triggered Autism in children. This study

has been labelled a fraud and disapproved by England’s

General Medical Council and resulted in Dr Wakefield having his

medical licence being revoked. A further study in 1999 also

created further controversy by stating that Thimerosal in the

MMR vaccine caused Autism.

Although these studies were instantly disproved, they still

gained a lot of publicity at the time due to the rapid increase of

children being diagnosed with Autism, with some even calling it

an epidemic of autism. It is believed that suspected parents

mistakenly associated the MMR vaccine with autism because

signs of autism first commonly appear at the age of 12 to 15

months, which is when the first MMR vaccine is administered.

Thimerosal was removed from most vaccines in 2001 but a

study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2008

found that cases of autism continued to increase even after

Thimerosal was removed, therefore further indicating the

theory that it caused autism was fraudulent. Thimerosal was

also removed from vaccines in Canada and Denmark in 1992

and autism cases still were on the rise.

Ultimately in 2004, the World Health Organisation and Institute

of Medicine concluded there was no link between vaccines and

autism, solidifying the fact the studies were false. This theory is

still widely believed today with many parents refusing to

vaccinate their children due to fears it may cause Autism.

Misconception two: Autistic people cannot feel empathy

Another common misconception about autism is that autistic

individuals do not feel empathy. Autistic people are often

portrayed in the media and literature as unable to feel empathy

with even one newspaper stating in 1990 that ‘Autism is the

plague of those unable to feel’. Not only is this perception

untrue, but it is also a dangerous stereotype. Autistic people

DO feel empathy and concern for others around them but

sometimes struggle with expressing it like a neurotypical

person would. A lack of expressed empathy is NOT a lack

emotion.

Many autistic people may lack the tools and ability to physically

and verbally express empathy. One ‘tool’ which many autistic

people may struggle to use is cognitive empathy. The lack of

cognitive empathy means they may struggle to recognise

emotions based on facial expressions and actions.

Studies have shown that some autistic people often tend to

look at the periphery of the face rather than the eyes and

mouth which mostly show emotion within the face. This

therefore may make it difficult for them to link facial

expressions to emotions.

Another issue many autistic people

experience is alexithymia. Alexithymia is the inability to

recognise and put a label on their emotions which in turn

makes it difficult to recognise other people’s emotions.

Therefore, autistic people DO feel empathy, it just isn’t

presented the same way as a neurotypical person would show

theirs. It is dangerous and unfair to assume that autistic people

do not feel empathy because it often gives the narrative that

they’re emotionless and may affect how they’re treated within

society.

Misconception three: Autism is more common now than in the

past

A further misconception regarding autism is that it is more

common now than in the past. As stated before, the rise in

diagnosed autistic people has often been described in the

media as an ‘epidemic of autism’.

In 1970 in the USA, 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with

autism whereas in 2015, 1 in 68 children were diagnosed. Up

until 1980, the ‘autistic spectrum’ did not exist as a diagnostic

category. It was not until the late 1980s that the ‘autistic

continuum’ was introduced by Lorna Wing who understood the

importance of recognising autism as a diagnosis. This

dramatically increased the number of children being diagnosed

with autism as it was more definitive and understanding.

Today, the USA use a new criteria for diagnosing autism within

the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

whereas the UK use a slightly different version.

Due to autism now being much more defined and understood,

more children are being diagnosed with it due to a better

understanding of the signs and behaviours. Therefore, the

increase in statistics isn’t because more people are now

autistic, it’s because there’s better diagnostic tools, which

makes it easier for children to be diagnosed.

The fact that more people are being diagnosed with autism now

is a positive step within society towards building a greater

acceptance and understanding of autism and ultimately

improve the treatment and inclusivity of autistic individuals.