Not everything out there today is true about autism, but we want to make sure you know what in fact is true and false about it. We have put together 6 myths about autism to help end misconceptions and spread knowledge.

Myth number one: people with autism don’t want to have friends. Some children with autism may suffer from social skills which make it seem that they are unfriendly or shy. It is not because they don’t want friends that they do not talk to, but because he or she is unable to communicate the way you do.

Myth two: people with autism cannot feel and express their emotions. Autism does not make that individual unable to feel emotions, it just makes them communicate or express their emotions in different ways that might be hard to tell. ABA therapy is one way to help detect and express emotions.

Myth number three: people with autism cannot understand other people’s emotions. While autism does affect an individual’s ability to understand unspoken interpersonal communication, it does not mean that they cannot detect when one is feeling ad. When emotions are communicated more directly, those with autism can better understand others’ feelings and emotions.

Up next with myth four: people with autism are intellectually disabled. This is totally a myth because the majority of the time people with autism have high IQs and some even excel at math or arts.

Myth five: people with autism are just like Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rain Man. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, its characteristics vary significantly from person to person. When you know one person with autism it means exactly that- you know one person with autism and others may be affected differently.

Myth six: people who display qualities that may be typical of a person with autism are just “odd” and will probably grow out of it. Autism comes from biological conditions that affect the brain’s development. For many individuals who have autism, it is a lifelong condition and uses autism therapy to help with obstacles along the way.

Are you looking for in-home autism therapy or ABA therapy nearby? Visit us at Applied Behavioral Consulting today to learn more about our services. We provide high-quality therapists that provide the best treatments for your child. Give us a call today at (630) 402-6060.