Many people will assume that individuals with Autism are “disabled” or can’t properly function in society. This, however, is completely false.

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What is Autism?

Let’s start with the National Institute of Mental Health’s definition(shortened for clarity): Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a neurological/developmental disorder that affects the person’s speech, communication, learning, behavior, and how they interact with other people. There is no known cause for ASD, but it is speculated that it may be a gene mutation and/or component. 

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Meghan Dougherty-Ryan, a speech pathologist in New York with over 20 years of experience, says this is somewhat false: “‘The thing is, it’s not a disorder, it’s a condition…It affects communication, speech, flexibility, and rigidity.” 

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According to Health Writer Hub, the difference between a disorder and condition is: “A disorder is a disruption to regular bodily structure and function.” “A condition is an abnormal state of health that interferes with normal or regular feelings of wellbeing.” 

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Short History of Autism

According to the National Institutes of Health, the concept of Autism was discovered in 1911 by German psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler and was thought to be symptoms of extreme cases of schizophrenia. According to the National Library of Medicine, up until the 1960s, it was thought of as someone with an excessive imagination and hallucinations; in the 1970s, someone with Autism was characterized as someone who had no imaginative thought. In fact, the NIH even adds that in later years in the UK and other countries, more diagnoses of Autism were occurring as technology was advancing and institutions for the “mentally retarded” were being closed down as a result of parents advocating for better recognition of their children’s issues. 

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Symptoms and Traits

Many people, when they hear “he/she has autism,” will jump to the stereotypical description: non-verbal, no eye contact, lacking independence, etc. While, yes, these are still symptoms of Autism, they don’t pertain to every person who is diagnosed as Autistic. This is because there is a wide spectrum of symptoms and traits, hence the name, Autism Spectrum Disorder. According to the National Institute of Health, some traits and common diagnoses with Autism are as follows:

• ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

• ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder

• Auditory Processing Disorder

• Dyslexia

• Dyscalculia

• Intellectual Disability

• OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Sensory Processing Disorder

These symptoms and traits can vary from person to person, but it depends on where the person lies on the Autism Spectrum.

 

Autism Spectrum

There is a wide range of symptoms and traits, therefore, no two people with Autism are alike. The Autism Spectrum is an illustration of the varying traits of an Autistic person. If someone lies on one end of the spectrum, they may have few issues in socializing, but find it difficult to participate in a school/learning environment. Some people with Autism may have a hard time expressing their needs and thoughts, but have above average capabilities, such as memorization of facts or numbers. People with Autism may not have many interests or social skills, but be hyper focused on the few things they are interested in. Some people with Autism may not be able to live on their own, while others can be completely self-sufficient.

 

So while, yes, people with Autism may do things different from neurotypical people, it does not mean that they should be ostracized for how they communicate or act. Being neuro-divergent is never something to be patronized for, because they simply learn differently than some other individuals.

Works Cited

Dougherty-Ryan, Meghan. Personal interview with the author.

"How autism became autism." National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757918/#:~:text=These%20historical%20changes%20have%20influenced,into%20autism%20and%20related%20conditions.&text=The%20concept%20of%20autism%20was,concept%20he%20had%20also%20created. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.

Lil Penguin Studios. Autism Is a Spectrum. Facebook file.

Melon, Dinethra. "Disease, disorder, condition, syndrome – what's the difference?" Health Writer Hub, 13 Oct. 2015, www.healthwriterhub.com/disease-disorder-condition-syndrome-whats-the-difference/#:~:text=A%20disorder%20is%20a%20disruption,or%20regular%20feelings%20of%20wellbeing. Accessed 8 Apr. 2024.

National Institute of Mental Health. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,first%202%20years%20of%20life. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.