8 myths about autism, that it's time to debunk

Myth 1. Autism is an illness -

No, this is not a disease but a feature of the development related to the violation of the central nervous system. The World Health Organization considers autism to a group of common developmental disorders.

The diagnosis of "autism" - behavior, that is, it can not be detected by analysis or hardware research. Experts observe a child with suspected autism, offer it to perform certain tasks, learn the history of its development, talk with parents.

Especially a child, his unusual behavior become apparent in early childhood. The diagnosis can be safely put in the age of about two years.

Children with autism are very different, and their behavior may vary depending on the age and severity of symptoms. For diagnostic criteria of autism include:

• difficulties in social interaction (the child does not always pay to the other party, it is either too close or too far from it);
• delay in the development of speech, or lack thereof;
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• difficulty understanding abstract concepts;
• increased or decreased sensitivity to various stimuli (sound, light, odors, vestibular sensations);
• food selectivity;
• difficulties with the change of activity, a strong preference for uniformity and consistency.

Many people with autism perform repetitive actions: swing, flap their hands, say the same phrases or make sounds, without resorting to another person. Some people mistakenly believe that the manifestations aggression or self-injurious behavior are also signs of autism, but this is not true.

Myth 2. Autism - a rare disorder

Autism - it is the most widespread developmental disorder. According to the latest data from the Center for Control and Prevention of diseases, autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are foundAutism prevalence slightly higher in CDC's ADDM Network every 59th child (although the WHO lead a 'soft' statisticsAutism spectrum disorders (ASD): One child out of 160). At the same time the boys susceptible to these disorders more often than girls.

In 2000 he was diagnosed with autismData & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder every 150th child. Researchers greatly disagree as to whether the growth is the number of children with this diagnosis a real "Epidemic" of autism or observed changes are related to the improvement of diagnostic procedures and increasing awareness in the society. It is likely that the answer lies somewhere between the two extremes.

Myth 3. All people with autism have a great ability

Probably spread this myth contributed to the film "Rain Man"Where the main character, played by Dustin Hoffman, stunningly played poker.

In reality, people with autism are very different. Therefore, it is customary to speak about autism spectrumThat involves varying degrees of severity of symptoms. Some people with ASD are able to focus on the smallest details, and can process visual and textual information many times faster than other people. Some of them began to read before learning to speak. Others have serious difficulties in social adaptation and learning.

Some researchers suggest that people with high-functioning autism were Emily Dickinson, Virginia Wolfe, William Butler Yeats, Herman Melville, and Hans Christian Andersen (although about each of them there are some doubt).

Myth 4. Children with autism can not learn in a regular school

Today, every child with disabilities has the right to inclusive education, which implies training and communication with typically developing peers.

Children with autism grow up, their behavior and needs change - as well as the behavior and needs of the child without this diagnosis. Recent studies showAutism spectrum disordersThat started at an early age (2-2.5 years) intensive assistance program based on behavioral analysis, to allow largely compensate for the difficulties faced by a child with autism, and allow it to better implement their potential.

It used to be that almost all people with autism have cognitive impairment. However, it is not. Intellectual impairment are presentA Brief Update on Intelligence in Autism Spectrum Disorders no more than 30% of children with autism, so many children with ASD are trained in comprehensive schools the regular program. Some of them need only a small adaptation, such as the ability to respond in writing if an oral response is difficult. For others, it is necessary to create specialized learning environment.

Some people mistakenly believe that communication is painful for the person with autism that they feel comfortable to be in "his world." This is not so, people with ASD want to, just do not always know how to do it, so they need the help of experts.

Myth 5. Vaccination causes autism

WHO studyQuestions and answers about the safety of vaccines and immunization, Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy ofVaccines are not associated with autism: an evidence-based meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies Family Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics show that neither vaccine causes an increase in the number of autism cases. Even in families where there are vaccinated and unvaccinated children, autism occurs with equal frequency.

He also proved that vaccine do not affect the severity of autism or trajectory of its development, have no effect on the time of onset of autism symptoms. Number used vaccines do not increase the frequency of occurrence of autism, as well as preservatives used in vaccines. The last major studyVaccines, Thimerosal, MMR, Mercury Not Associated With Autism held in 2014, there 1.3 million children with ASD were involved. His data show that among children who received the vaccine against measles, rubella and mumps, the risk of autism is less than among unvaccinated children.

Myth 6. Autism - the result of improper upbringing

This theory emerged after World War II, when psychologists have been studying closely the early parent-child relationship. However, these ideas have not been confirmed. This theory is also refuted by real life: a huge number of parents with excellent intra- Relationships have children with autism in the same family there are kids with ASD and typically developing children.

The exact causes of autism spectrum disorders are still unknown. But established genetic nature of violations: with autism are born, it does not appear due to external influences.

Myth 7. If a child with autism to speak, all the problems will disappear

The manifestations of autism wider than just speech disorder is primarily a communication difficulties. Some children with autism repeat a word in the presence of the listener, and alone, not directing it at anyone in particular. Therefore, when we look at a child's ability to communicate, you have to evaluate not how many words he could say, and his ability to engage in dialogue.

Here is an example: an eight-Kohl always said. When he was very young, parents are very proud of its ability to quickly memorize and recite poems and phrases from advertising. But Nick did not know how to address people with requests, and his family is not always easy to understand what he wants at any given moment, which is why the boy was upset and cried often.

A psychologist and a speech therapist in the school conducted an assessment of its ability to communicate. It turned out that, despite the huge number of wordsWhich Kohl used his communication skills are at a fairly low level: the boy is difficult to apply to people who ask, refuse to comment.

Experts have begun to apply the special technology, which helps in the development of communication skills - Picture Exchange System (PECS). As a result of its regular use in school and at home the boy learned to initiate dialogue, to attract attention of the interlocutor, has become increasingly turn to the people. In addition, significantly improved behavior Kohli: to ask for or to give express pleasure or displeasure, he did not have to cry - he learned the words to express their desire and reluctance.

Myth 8. Autism can be treated with therapy animals or "magic pill"

Internet is crowded with all sorts of suggestions, "treatments". Some of them are based on current knowledge, the other - on the superstitions and false beliefs.

There is currently no "medicine" from autism. It is known that have proven effective assistance programs built on the ideas of applied behavior analysis. In Russia, such a program is actively developing during the last 10 years. Most are commercial in nature, but there are also high-quality free software, such as net family support services that help children with autism.