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Autism

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Autism
Girl spinning in a dress
Many autistic people enjoy
repetitive behavior.
SpecialtyPsychology
Signs
  • Social differences
  • Communication
    differences
  • Fidgeting
  • Intense interests
  • Sensory issues
  • Sincerity
Usual onsetSigns show up by age two[1]
DurationLifelong
CausesMostly genetic with
some environmental factors[2]
Diagnostic
method		Based on behavior and
developmental history[1]
TreatmentSpeech therapy
Counseling
Occupational therapy

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability involving social difficulties, repetitive behavior, and sensory sensitivities. Signs show up during the first three years of an autistic person's life, though diagnosis may not happen until later.

Signs of autism include:[3][4]

  • Difficulty picking up on social cues like facial expressions, body language, subtexts, and hints
  • Trouble making friends
  • Discomfort with eye contact
  • Sincerity
  • Intense, passionate interests
  • Repetitive fidgeting (stimming) to self-regulate
  • Need for routine
  • Sensory over- and under-sensitivities

Autism is lifelong[5] and mostly genetic,[2] beginning in the womb.[6][7] It comes with both strengths and difficulties.[8][9][10] The right support can make a huge difference in quality of life.

Autistic people often do better when they are allowed to be themselves. Enjoying their special interests is good for their wellbeing.[11] Behavior like fidgeting[12][13] and avoiding eye contact[14] can help them stay calm and adapt to situations.

Autistic people have developed their own community and culture. They advocate for acceptance, an end to abuse, adequate support, and a greater say in their own lives.

Society and culture[]

The Internet has helped autistic individuals bypass nonverbal cues, and has given them a way to form online communities and work remotely.[15] This has allowed them to create their own culture. Some now believe that autism is simply another way of being.[16][17]

The autism rights movement emerged to increase acceptance of autistic people and to defend against abuse.[18] Through this movement, people hope to cause others to think of autism as a difference instead of a disease. Proponents of this movement wish to seek "acceptance, not cures."[19]

The debate over autism[]

Debates on autism often split into two groups. The neurodiversity group argues that autism is a difference instead of a disease, and that support for autistic people should honor their individual needs and quirks. The anti-neurodiversity group argues that autism is a disease that should be cured or ameliorated through behavior training to make autistic people fit in.

The debate about curing autism continues as scientists learn more about causation. Pro-cure advocates, many of which are parents, argue that autism is a disease that causes suffering and should be erased. Anti-cure advocates, many of which are autistic adults, raise concerns about eugenics, loss of human diversity, and the ethics of potential selective abortion. They argue that autistic people are members of a minority group rather that deserves accommodation instead of eradication. Websites such as autistics.org present the view of the anti-cure group.

Another controversy is applied behavior analysis (ABA). Proponents argue that ABA greatly changes behavior and is beneficial for improving life skills. Critics raise concerns about ethical issues, risk of PTSD and psychological harm, and potential harms of training autistic people to mask.[20][21][22] Research on potential harms is minimal.

Autistic culture[]

Autistic Culture 1

Autistic culture depicted by an autistic artist

Autistic people have created their own culture. They promote autism acceptance and encourage other autistic people to be true to themselves. Many of them argue that autistic people are different, not inferior.

Raising awareness[]

World Autism Awareness Day is on April 2.[23] Some autistic people prefer to call it Autism Acceptance Day. Autistic Pride Day is June 18.[24]

Autism Speaks run a Light It Up Blue initiative. This event is controversial due to its negative portrayal of autistic people. Autistic advocates have called for using #REDinstead.[25]

Popular views of autism[]

Social-science scholars have had an increased focused on studying those with autism in hopes to learn more about "autism as a culture, transcultural comparisons... and research on social movements."[26]

Media has had an influence on how the public perceives autistic people. Rain Man and The Big Bang Theory are two popular examples. Media representations tend to rely heavily on stereotypes.

The media often depicts autistic (or autistic-like) characters as hyper-intelligent with savant skills. While many autistics don't have these special abilities, some autistic people have achieved great success in their chosen fields.[27][28][29]

See also[]

External resources[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NIMH » Autism Spectrum Disorder". nimh.nih.gov. October 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Park, Alice. This Is How Much of Autism Is Genetic, Time Magazine
  3. ↑ About Autism, Autistic Self Advocacy Network
  4. ↑ What is autism?, National Autistic Society
  5. ↑ Scott D. Wright , Cheryl A. Wright , Valerie D’Astous & Amy Maida Wadsworth (2019) Autism aging, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, 40:3, 322-338, DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2016.1247073
  6. ↑ Hamilton, Jon. Brain Changes Suggest Autism Starts In The Womb, NPR
  7. ↑ A routine prenatal ultrasound can identify early signs of autism, study finds, Science Daily
  8. ↑ Autism Strengths, Embrace Autism
  9. ↑ Strengths of Autism: Why Autistic People Excel at Specific Tasks, Health News
  10. ↑ Russell G, Kapp SK, Elliott D, Elphick C, Gwernan-Jones R, Owens C. Mapping the Autistic Advantage from the Accounts of Adults Diagnosed with Autism: A Qualitative Study. Autism Adulthood. 2019 Jun 1;1(2):124-133. doi: 10.1089/aut.2018.0035. Epub 2019 Apr 13. PMID: 31058260; PMCID: PMC6493410.
  11. ↑ Grove R, Hoekstra RA, Wierda M, Begeer S. Special interests and subjective wellbeing in autistic adults. Autism Res. 2018 May;11(5):766-775. doi: 10.1002/aur.1931. Epub 2018 Feb 10. PMID: 29427546.
  12. ↑ Kapp SK, Steward R, Crane L, Elliott D, Elphick C, Pellicano E, Russell G. 'People should be allowed to do what they like': Autistic adults' views and experiences of stimming. Autism. 2019 Oct;23(7):1782-1792. doi: 10.1177/1362361319829628. Epub 2019 Feb 28. PMID: 30818970; PMCID: PMC6728747.
  13. ↑ Stimming, therapeutic for autistic people, deserves acceptance, Spectrum
  14. ↑ Should We Insist on Eye Contact with People who have Autism Spectrum Disorders, Indiana Resource Center for Autism
  15. ↑ Biever C (2007). "Web removes social barriers for those with autism". New Sci (2610): 26–7. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012.
  16. ↑ Silverman C (2008). "Fieldwork on another planet: social science perspectives on the autism spectrum". Biosocieties. 3 (3): 325–41. doi:10.1017/S1745855208006236.
  17. ↑ Harmon A (20 December 2004). "How about not 'curing' us, some autistics are pleading". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013.
  18. ↑ Trivedi, Bijal. "Autistic and proud of it". New Scientist. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  19. ↑ Shapiro, Joseph (26 June 2006). "Autism Movement Seeks Acceptance, Not Cures". NPR. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  20. ↑ “Recalling hidden harms”: autistic experiences of childhood applied behavioural analysis (ABA)
  21. ↑ Aileen Herlinda Sandoval-Norton, Gary Shkedy & Dalia Shkedy | Jacqueline Ann Rushby (Reviewing editor) (2019) How much compliance is too much compliance: Is long-term ABA therapy abuse?, Cogent Psychology, 6:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311908.2019.1641258
  22. ↑ Evidence of increased PTSD symptoms in autistics exposed to applied behavior analysis
  23. ↑ "World Autism Awareness Day, 2 April". United Nations. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  24. ↑ Bascom, Julia (18 June 2015). "Autistic Pride Day 2015: A Message to the Autistic Community". Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Wear #RedInstead on Autism Acceptance Day, Learn From Autistics
  26. ↑ Silverman, Chloe (2008). "Fieldwork on Another Planet: Social Science Perspectives on the Autism Spectrum". BioSocieties. 3 (3): 325–341. doi:10.1017/S1745855208006236. ISSN 1745-8552.
  27. ↑ "American RadioWorks: Fast Food and Animal Rights – Kill Them With Kindness, Page 1". American Public Media. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  28. ↑ Page, Tim (20 August 2007). "Parallel Play". The New Yorker. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  29. ↑ "Famous People With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Autistic Celebrities (List)". Mental Health Daily. Retrieved 18 November 2015.

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