The 4 Most Popular Autism Myths - Debunked!

When Aiden was 2, we both ended up in the ER to be screened for carbon monoxide poisoning after a gas leak in our home. As the nurse prepared to draw blood from Aiden's arm, she suddenly stopped and turned her attention to me.

"Who told you that he has autism? Why would you think that? He's too young to be diagnosed." She crossed her arms and looked at me critically.

"A team of professionals who specialize in Autism." I replied.

"Hmmm. You may want a second opinion because he isn't even old enough to be diagnosed with Autism." There was a long pause. "And," she said very matter of factly, "he makes eye contact and seems to be very affectionate with you. He doesn't have autism."

I was stunned and had to take a minute to gather my thoughts. "Well, I disagree with you. I don't think that you've read the most up-to-date information on Autism. It's not a one-size-fits-all condition!"

As a mom, I spent hours upon hours researching the subject after Aiden was diagnosed. I must have spent two full months trying to understand what had now become a huge part of our lives. It was vital that I knew what I was up against before going into battle. Unless you and your family are somehow affected by autism, there isn't a reason to spend that kind of time researching the condition. It's difficult to distinguish fact from fiction when you aren't given the right information.

There are so many misconceptions and myths about autism that I could probably write a whole book on that topic alone. But lets make this short & sweet. Here are The 4 Most Popular Autism Myths - Debunked:

Myth #1 People with autism don't make eye contact.

WRONG! Aiden is the champion of making eye contact, but it wasn't always that way. Lack of eye contact was one of the first indications that he had autism. He used to be disconnected and oblivious to everything that was going on around him. With time, and lots and lots of therapy, he learned to cope with his discomfort and maintain eye contact whenever it's necessary. Social interaction is very challenging for a person with autism, but many individuals can learn the skills needed to overcome this obstacle. So while inability to make or sustain eye contact is a symptom of autism, it's not a requirement.

Myth #2 People with autism aren't affectionate.

Aiden was not an affectionate baby. He didn't want to be touched, hugged, or kissed. However, he is now one of the most loving and affectionate kids I've ever met. Just this morning, Aiden came up to me and gave me the biggest squishy (Aiden speak for a hug).

"I love you more than cookies and milk." he said in his baby voice. "You're the best mama in the world."

Showing physical affection can be extremely difficult for children with autism. Some are very sensitive to touch which makes direct contact with others very uncomfortable for them. With a lot of time, work, and patience, bonds and affection can be achieved.

Myth # 3 Autism is caused by bad parenting.

No, no, no, no. no!!! As an Autism Mom, this one annoys me to no end. Sigmund Freud believed that almost all psychological issues stemmed from trauma in early childhood. Autism was considered to be a mental illness at that point in history (we now know that it is neurological), and that would make it reasonable to assume that it too was caused by trauma. Even though research has since proved this theory wrong, it continues to haunt those affected by autism.

There are good parents. There are bad parents. There are parents who care too much and parents who don't care enough. Some kids with autism have good parents and others were stuck with the bad ones. Autism is not caused by the quality (or lack thereof!) of parenting, although I'm sure it does have a HUGE impact on how the child progresses.

Myth # 4 Autism can be outgrown.

Autism isn't like a pair of shoes. It isn't something that one can outgrow, but it can be treated and managed with the proper therapy. Some opt to use different diets or medicine to control symptoms, while others rely on therapy alone. Whatever the case may be, autism is a lifelong condition for which there currently is no cure. Although there are most certainly children who appear to "outgrow" their autism as their symptoms recede or change entirely, the underlying condition remains and symptoms can reappear at any given time.

Autism Moms: SOUND OFF!!! Which one of these myths annoys you the most?