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About the Spectrum
Myths
People
on the autism spectrum do not have emotions or
feelings.
Among the characteristics of the autism spectrum
are an impaired ability to see things from the
perspective of another person or to “read”
facial expressions, body language, or other social
cues, and the tendency to express themselves using
inappropriate remarks or unconventional facial
expressions and body gestures. In particular,
people on the spectrum often do not respond to
a situation, incident, or story in the same manner
or to the same degree that a typical person would.
This can make such an individual appear unempathetic
or unfeeling. In fact, most people on the autism
spectrum experience the same range of emotions
as anybody else. Furthermore, in spite of not
reacting with as much emotion to some situations
as would be expected, they can sometimes react
with much more emotion to other situations than
most people would. In particular, because of the
many difficulties that they often have with things
that come “naturally” to most people,
those on the autism spectrum are likely to experience
feelings of anger, frustration, and depression
more strongly than a typical person. This myth
can exacerbate these emotions even further, when
an individual on the spectrum realizes that his
feelings are completely disregarded by people
who do not believe that he has any.
—Karl Wittig
People
on the autism spectrum do not have emotions or
feelings.
Nonsense. We display it differently,
AND we become emotional about different things.
This creates a double-layered trap for misinterpretation
when others are looking for responses they're
used to (often the only responses they may be
able to accept) when deciding whether or not an
individual has emotions or feelings.
—mjc
Autistic
People Have No Emotions, Are Cold and Unfeeling.
Having an emotional handicap is not the same as
having no emotions. Even severely autistic and
mute people have the ability to feel and display
affection for those who care for them. People
with AS may appear emotionally flat, but this
does not mean they do not feel extremes of emotion,
or are unable to feel and display affection for
others.
—Allen Markman
People
on the autism spectrum have no interest in social
interaction.
It is definitely true that most
people on the autism spectrum have a need to “keep
to themselves” for at least part of the
time and that they can become absorbed in their
often unusual areas of interest, sometimes to
the exclusion of everything else. Although some
more severely autistic individuals may have an
aversion to all social interactions, this in no
way implies that the vast majority of people on
the spectrum have any less need for human companionship
than anybody else. It is generally true, however,
that being on the autism spectrum generally implies
a significant deficit in social skills, and that
many individuals have difficulty with, and often
an aversion to, much of what constitutes popular
conversation or “small talk”. The
sad outcome of this situation, for such an individual,
is frequently one of isolation in spite of having
a very strong craving for the “normal”
social life that others appear to have. The prevalence
of this myth aggravates the situation even further,
since it causes people to disregard the social
needs of these individuals.
—Karl Wittig
People
on the autism spectrum do not have a sense of
humor.
This is one of the least harmful
but most ridiculous myths about the autism spectrum.
It is probably due to the fact that people on
the spectrum often are unable to “get”
many conventional jokes, or simply do not find
them funny. This is then interpreted as a lack
of a sense of humor. In reality, many people on
the autism spectrum develop a strong interest
in humor, especially after enough jokes are explained
to them and / or they develop the ability to understand
them independently. The result can range from
a downright hilarious individual, who happens
to be on the autism spectrum, to someone with
an unconventional and perhaps highly original
style of humor.
—Karl Wittig
People
on the autism spectrum do not have a sense of
humor.
Nonsense. We find different things
funny. Or in more challenged situations, people’s
capabilities to perceive that which might be funny
to them hasn’t been developed yet.
—mjc
People
on the autism spectrum are not interested in sex.
This is one of the most erroneous,
as well as most tragic, myths about the autism
spectrum. It is perpetuated by the same “solitary”
stereotypes of individuals with autism responsible
for the myth of their having no interest in social
interactions. Sadly, this myth can become a “self-fulfilling
prophecy” as a result of the deficits in
interpersonal skills, awareness of social subtlety
and cues, and ability to perceive things from
the perspective of another person that are characteristic
of AS and autism. These abilities, which are instinctive
for most people, are essential for any form of
social success, particularly the pursuit of a
sexual relationship. In fact, people with autism
are every bit as interested in sex as anybody,
if not even more so as a result of the abysmal
reality that their social lives often are. The
situation can be even further aggravated by the
images of human sexuality that are delivered by
the mass media as well as the constant references
to sexual success that are so common in many conversations.
—Karl Wittig
People
on the autism spectrum do not speak.
It is sadly true that some people
with more severe forms of autism may never speak,
and that many children on the autism spectrum
are delayed in their early speech, sometimes severely.
In fact, however, the vast majority of people
on the spectrum are not only quite capable of
speech, but are generally quite articulate and
often even talkative. Furthermore, the definition
of AS specifically includes “no significant
delay in language development” as one of
the diagnostic criteria. The fact that some individuals
on the spectrum tend to “keep to themselves”
and avoid social conversation (especially “small-talk”)
also helps to contribute to the myth. A major
consequence of this misconception is that a significant
portion of this population, namely those capable
of any form of speech, is not recognized as having
any form of autism, and thus considered ineligible
for the accommodations and services that they
in fact need.
—Karl Wittig
People
on the autism spectrum are mentally retarded.
Although a large percentage of
individuals with the more severe forms of autism
are considered retarded according to conventional
criteria for measuring intelligence, this is certainly
not true of the entire autistic population. Even
without considering the many historical figures
that are, controversially, believed to have been
on the autism spectrum, there are numerous diagnosed
autistic individuals with college and even post-graduate
education, up to the Ph.D., as well a significant
number of professionals in various fields. Once
again, the definition of AS includes “no
significant delay in cognitive development”
as one of the diagnostic criteria; in other words,
individuals with AS are at least of “average”
or “normal” intelligence, and many
are in the above-average and even superior ranges.
What is true about the autism spectrum is that
many individuals, regardless of their cognitive
intelligence, have difficulties with things that
are relatively easy, if not instinctive, for the
majority of people; this includes academic subjects
as well as “real-world” skills. A
common result of this is that bright individuals
are considered much less intelligent than they
actually are, thereby limiting opportunities to
achieve their potentials as well as perpetuating
the myth. Another unfortunate consequence of this
myth is that special educational accommodations
and services, particularly in the areas of social
skills and daily-living skills, are not offered
to many of the brighter children on the autism
spectrum, who are considered “too smart”
to need them.
—Karl Wittig
AS
is not really a form of autism.
There is a consensus among autism researchers
that AS and Autism are related, but the nature
of this relationship is not yet known for certain.
Many believe AS is the mildest form of autism,
and that there is a spectrum of autistic conditions.
—Allen Markman
AS
is not a serious condition.
Because we are highly verbal and high-functioning
in most areas except the social realm, some people
think AS/HFA is not a serious condition. They
say that, compared to “real autism,”
AS is not significant. Clinicians and researchers,
as well as parents of AS children, would disagree
with this statement. AS has a major impact on
one’s ability to function in the world and
it is a permanent, pervasive and serious condition.
—Allen Markman
People
With AS Are All Geniuses.
Actually, we’re pretty average in terms
of general intelligence. Because we often have
stilted, overprecise language, and excellent memory
for obscure facts, others may think we are more
intelligent than we actually are.
—Allen Markman
Autistic
People Are Non-Verbal.
Most people on the autism spectrum have some use
of language. A minority of severely autistic people
are non-verbal. People with AS may be hyper-verbal.
People with AS/HFA may in fact talk too much for
others’ comfort.
—Allen Markman
People
with AS Have No “Theory of Mind.”
Most people with AS/HFA have no problem passing
so-called theory of mind tests. Because we are
self-centered, this does not mean we are unable
or unwilling to acknowledge that other people
have minds that are different from ours.
—Allen Markman
People
With AS Cannot Have Normal Relationships or Live
Independently.
While it is true that most people with AS/HFA
do not marry and do not live independently, many
do. As intelligent people, many of us are able
to compensate for our handicaps through sheer
force of will and determination.
—Allen Markman
People
with AS Are More Likely to Commit Crimes and Get
Into Trouble With the Police.
We are actually more law-abiding than most, and
we have an overdeveloped moral sense. While it
is certainly true that there are well-publicized
cases of criminals with AS, this is exceptional,
and usually involves people who have severe psychological
problems in addition to AS.
—Allen Markman