Autism Introduction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a "neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a 'developmental disorder' because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life" (Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2022). A spectrum disorder means that there are many ways autism can affect the person with the diagnosis and that not all cases are the same.

Historical and Contemporary Overview

Autism was first diagnosed in 1912 by a psychiatrist by the name of Eugene Bleuler. In his definition of autism, it was someone who was self-absorbed and out of touch with the rest of the world. "The word autism is derived from the Greek word autos, meaning self. The term was chosen to communicates the social and communicative isolation that is the foremost feature of the illness" (Historical and Contemporary Understanding of Autism). However, Dr. Bleuler's use of the term referred to individuals with schizophrenia and not to people with autism as we know them today. Today, autism is more widely understood. Several current movie and television charters appropriately represent how a person with autism may behave, feel, and/or live; this has helped the masses understand the disorder a lot better. It is also way more commonly diagnosed now. According to the CDC, 1 in 44 children has been diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and it is prevalent in all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups ((Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder, 2022).

Stereotypes and Stereotypical Thinking

There are several stereotypes that those with autism are associated with. Some common ones are that they are aggressive, obsessive, they are really smart or extremely unintelligent, they can not communicate, they look different, they do not have emotions or can not hold relationships. However, none of that is true and todays society is better at acknowledging that. People are now more aware and understanding of this disorder and not so quick to judge to stereotype; there will always be outliers to this, however. We now know that sensory issues are prevalent in those with autism which may cause them to seem more aggressive. They can be hypersensitive in regards to sounds, lights, or even food textures. Those with autism have a wide range of intelligence, with autism being a spectrum disorder- it may affect some cognitively, however in someone else it may only affect them socially and have absolutely no effect on their intelligence. So many of these stereotypes have been debunked and media is starting to play a very large role in that.

Cultural Perceptions

Culture plays a large role in how autism is viewed and treated and even plays a role on how fast it is diagnosed. Anglo parents are more likely to see general developmental delays or regression of language before social issues. This could be due to the fact that language is emphasized in the Anglo culture more than social skills and it is not uncommon for parents to make excuses for poor social behavior (Mandell & Novak, 2005). On the other side of things, Eastern Indian parents notice social problems in their children before speech issues. This could be due to the high value they place on social conformity. Indian parents are not usually alarmed when their three year old boys are not speaking yet because they feel girls talk before boys (Mandell & Novak, 2005). Lastly, when it comes to treatment, some cultures decide to lean on family, community and church support before they will consider help from a professional. Other cultures will go to the medical community for advice first and then rely on family for extra support. 

Conclusion

Autism being normalized is a work in progress and is still incredibly new. Movies and television shows, such as Sesame Street and Atypical are helping create an open conversation about what those with autism feel like, gives an insight to their behavior, and helps normalize the things we do not understand. This is just one step in debunking all of the old stereotypes placed upon those with this disorder. Just remember, if you have met one person with autism... you have only met one person with autism- no two diagnoses are exactly alike.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, March 2). Data & statistics on autism spectrum disorder. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Historical and contemporary understanding of autism. Mental Help Historical and Contemporary Understanding of Autism Comments. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mentalhelp.net/autism/historical-and-contemporary-understanding/

Mandell, D. & Novak, M. (2005). The role of culture in families’ treatment decisions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 11, 110-115.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Autism spectrum disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd#:~:text=Autism%20spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20is,first%20two%20years%20of%20life.