I think that it’s great that this month is Autism Awareness month and that there is so much going on to raise awareness of autism, perhaps this will shatter the many myths and stereotypes that surround Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Sometimes, it feels like autism is only in the news when an autistic person has committed a criminal act or an act of violence, or when Jenny McCarthy is on Oprah or Larry King talking about her latest book or vaccines, or it is announced that we’re in the middle of an autism epidemic.

No wonder people have such warped views on autism and don’t understand what it is. I even read a blog the other day written by a blogger who’d met a woman who was scared to get pregnant in case she had an autistic child! Sad!

Let’s have a look at some of the myths and views that surround the world of autism:-

1. Autism is a mental illness similar to schizophrenia – No, autism has nothing to do with schizophrenia. Autism is a neurobiological and developmental disorder which commonly affects a person’s ability to communicate, socialize and empathize.
2. You can tell an autistic person by looking at them – No, autism is an “invisible” condition.
3. Autism is caused by the MMR vaccine – That’s such a sweeping statement! Although many people feel that there is a link between vaccines and autism, there are actually many potential causes or triggers of autism.
4. Autism is caused by a lack of bonding between mother and child – This theory is known as “The Refrigerator Mother Theory” and was put forward by Dr Bruno Bettelheim in the 1950s and 60s. Autism is now seen as a biological condition, rather than a psychiatric one, and is nothing to do with bad parenting

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