AUTISM MYTHS: DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR

All autistic people are geniuses

No. While autism can be a gift to higher functioning individuals – improving their ability in subjects such as mathematics and software – it is not true to say that everyone with the condition is a genius. Studies have shown that around half of autistic children also have a learning disability (defined as an IQ below 70), while an estimated 25 to 50 per cent never develop fluent spoken language, limiting their educational options.

Vaccines cause autism

Wrong again. The notion that vaccines cause autism originates from a now discredited 1998 paper by British former doctor Andrew Wakefield, claiming to link the disorder to the MMR vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella. An investigation by The Sunday Times revealed Wakefield had manipulated his data and had received money from solicitors seeking evidence against vaccine manufacturers.

Autistic people have no empathy

Autistic people struggle with social interaction – they can find it hard to read other people’s emotions and, as they tend to process information more slowly, can have trouble maintaining a conversation. It can make them seem shy or aloof, but they’re not antisocial or lacking in empathy. The same applies to claims that they lack a sense of humour. My son laughs as much as any child – his general happiness is probably what keeps me going.