Busting the Stereotypes Regarding Autism

Just like anyone with any physical or mental condition, autistic people deal with a whole wide range of reactions from others. These can range from full and complete support, to uncaring indifference. Sadly, even those who are supportive of families that have a member who is autistic may not really understand what autism is. This unfortunately leads to there being many stereotypes regarding autism which can then result in embarrassment, hatred, and other unhappy situations. When you become educated about autism, then you can help others in your community understand better too, and in this way you can help to bust stereotypes about autism.

It is important to understand that not all autistic people are the same. Autism is such a complex medical condition that each person that has it reacts to having it in different ways. In most cases people with autism are rated on a functional scale where high functioning people with autism hold down jobs, and low functioning people with autism may need care twenty four hours a day. Symptoms range from behavioral challenges, speech and communication difficulties, uncontrollable movements, and feelings of emotional inadequacy. Some people with autism show all these symptoms, and then some may only show a few of them. Then there are those who have their symptoms so under control that you would not know they were autistic unless they told you.

Since every individual is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true in an overall case. However, most people with autism have difficulty communicating emotions. This doesn't mean that the person with autism doesn't feel, it just means he or she has trouble expressing his or her feelings. Another thing that some people believe erroneously is that someone with autism cannot develop strong relationship bonds with someone else. On the contrary many autistic people are happily married and deeply in love. Forming relationships may be difficult for many, but over time it can be accomplished.

Another idea that many people believe that is incorrect is that being autistic also means the person with autism is a genius in some way. While it's true that some individuals who are autistic have extraordinory music, math or art skills, they are not in the majority of this group. In fact the norm is that most autistic people are not extraordinary or genius in anything and instead are just like the rest of us. This stereotype has been perpetuated by the movies and television shows, because the idea of a talented person battling a disadvantage such as autism for example, makes such a great plot. But this is not the norm, so nothing more than whatever the best is that an autistic person can do is all that should be expected of him. It is also important to point out that autism is not a form of mental deficiency. Some autistic people are mentally deficient in addition to being autistic, but one is not necessarily connected to the other. Because of this it is really important not to treat those with autism as though they are mentally deficient.

In the end, the most important lesson we can take away from our studies of autism, and in fact any studies of any health condition, is tolerance. You will most likely need to be more patient when dealing with someone with autism. However, understanding a little more about this condition, should make this much easier. Learning what you can about autism, and then spreading that knowledge to those in your community can help us all create a more tolerant setting not just for those with autism, but for anyone who has a disability whether physical or mental.