What is Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Edited by Catherine Verdeflor

What is autism? Autism, or more specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that affects an individual's behavioral, social, and communication skills. During the pandemic, there was an increase in the general public's awareness of the Autism Community. Through social media, the Autism Community made their presence known, especially during the incident with Sia's movie "Music," a widely disliked movie that felt like a mockery of the Autism Community. Autistic individuals flooded TikTok, Youtube, Instagram, and other social media platforms to unanimously express their disappointment in Sia. As a result, people started to discover more about the Autism Community, and their voices could reach more people. However, to understand more about the Autism Community, one must inform themselves about the signs and symptoms, causes and risk factors, and the ambiguity of ASD.

People with ASD do not look different than others. Furthermore, in terms of looks, nothing sets them apart from the rest of society. If this is the case, what makes people with ASD unique? ASD is a developmental disability concerning behavior and communication. As the name Autism Spectrum Disorder hints, signs and symptoms vary along a "spectrum" (National Institute of Mental Health, 2020). There is no guaranteed set of symptoms that all autistic people face. Instead, they may suffer from various symptoms that make each individual learn, pay attention, and react differently. For example, one person may favor constant hugs, cuddles, and physical displays of affection, while another might prefer not to be touched at all. How about listening to music, drawing, or being interested in STEM? Yes, some autistic people may have a strong interest in these fields. However, as stated before, it depends on the individual. These societal stereotypes only reflect a mere fraction of the preferences, disinterests, habits, and aspirations of the Autism Community. Thus, associating an autistic person to only these stereotypes and not seeing them as people with their unique dreams and interests can do more harm than good. You are only perpetuating overused and false stereotypes.

What are the risk factors for ASD? Environmental, genetic, and biological factors can influence the chance of a child having ASD. According to the CDC, potential risk factors include: "people with certain chromosomal or genetic conditions, children born to older parents, certain prescription drugs taken during pregnancy such as thalidomide, children whose siblings have ASD, and genes" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020, para. 11).

While there is still so much we do not know about ASD, early intervention treatment options can help improve an autistic child's development. Additionally, according to the CDC, speech therapy is an excellent option for language delays (CDC, 2020). Yes, there is no cure for ASD. However, people fail to realize that autistic people are not people who "need to be cured." There are individuals whose traits, whether excellent or flawed, deserve to be respected as much as a non-disabled person's traits are.

As scientists and health professionals learn more about ASD, we as a society must learn to accept the Autism Community and the Disability Community at large. No more stereotypes. No more name-calling. No more discrimination. The only way to move forward as a society is to change, and we must change to embrace the Disability Community. We must remind ourselves that whether some have autism, another disability, or no disability at all, they deserve to be loved and respected equally. Only when we reach this point can we truly make this world a better place for the Disability Community as a whole.

References:

Center for Disease and Control Prevention. (2020, March 25). What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html.

National Institute of Mental Health. (2020, March). Autism Spectrum Disorder. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml.

[Untitled image of a brain]. Integration Centre Sasov. https://www.icsasov.cz/en/what-is-autism/