6 There’s a lot of confusion, debate, and bad information out there about autism. To help clear things up, let’s bust some of the most common myths. Myth Autism is a single condition with a specific set of traits. Fact Autism is a complex spectrum — its full name is autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — not any one condition. It has many symptoms that range from mild to severe. Autistic people often have challenges with: • Social relationships • Language and other forms of communication • Understanding social cues • Repetitive behaviors • Limited interests Some autistic people need a lot of support throughout their lives, while others don’t. Autism is different for everyone who has it. Myth Only children are autistic. Fact Children don’t grow out of autism. Adults can be autistic too — about 1 in every 45 adults in the U.S. Some adults may have learned to navigate social situations or mask some symptoms of their condition, but they are still autistic. Myth Only boys can be autistic. Fact Boys are four times more likely to be autistic than girls, but girls can also be autistic. Autism: What it is & what Myth Vaccines cause autism. Fact Vaccines do not cause autism. Research shows that there is no connection between the two. Parents may notice autism symptoms starting to appear around the same time that kids start getting immunizations, but that’s only a coincidence. Myth Autism and intellectual disabilities go hand in hand. Fact An autistic person may be more likely to have an intellectual disability. However, these are two distinct conditions that sometimes — but not always — overlap.
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