Do I have autism?
A conversation sent me down a mini rabbit hole.
Recently, I was chatting with a friend about routines. I pointed out how I am partial to having a fixed routine, explaining that it makes my life simpler and easier to manage. And he jokingly said, "You know that in a different situation, you would have been diagnosed with autism, right?" We laughed. But at the same time, I got curious. What is autism? Do I give off "autism vibes?"😅
Well, let's find out together.
WHAT IS AUTISM?
First, let's talk about what autism isn't. Autism isn't an illness or a disease. You don't "catch" autism. Experts are still figuring out what leads to autism. Some people have incorrectly assumed that vaccines, lousy parenting, etc., cause autism. I'll address this later. What I want to establish for now is that autism means that certain people's brains work in a different way than usual. So, what exactly is autism?
Autism (known clinically as autism spectrum disorder ASD) is a spectrum condition that affects how people interact, communicate, learn, and behave. By spectrum, this means that autism affects different people in different ways. Some people can get by independently and learn to adapt to life, even when they have trouble understanding things. Yet, this condition can be so severe for others that they need regular support.
Autism is established when specific criteria are met. According to the DSM-5, people with autism have
Difficulty communicating and interacting with other people.
Restricted interests and repetitive behaviours
Symptoms that may affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas of life. (Source: National Institute for Mental Health)
HOW IS AUTISM DIAGNOSED?
Maybe you're thinking, "I'm terrified of talking to people. Does that make me autistic?"😨 Well, there's more to it than that.
Experts say there are two core symptoms of autism: challenges to social interaction/ communication skills and restricted/repetitive behaviour.
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
People with autism have trouble with
Social interactions: like starting or taking turns in conversation, sharing interests and emotions, and understanding what others think and feel.
Communicating: including making eye contact, understanding others' body language/gestures, and regulating the tone or volume of their voice.
Developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships like expressing feelings, seeking emotional comfort, making friends, playing with peers, or feeling overwhelmed in social situations.
REPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR
These behaviours vary across the spectrum. Experts say that before autism is diagnosed, a person must have at least two of these kinds of behaviours:
Repetitive movement, play or speech patterns: like hand flapping, spinning, rocking, lining up toys in a row, and imitating others' speech.
Insisting on the same routines: This may include ritualistic behaviour (watching the same videos repeatedly), having a daily schedule or fixed routine, and experiencing extreme distress when there is a slight change in plans or routine.
Intense and highly focused interests involving particular interests in narrow topics and a strong attachment to objects.
Under- or over-sensitivity to sensory stimulation: which includes unusual sensitivity to light, sound, touch or texture, pain, and temperature, including sensory-seeking behaviours (such as visual fascination with lights or movements)
OTHER SYMPTOMS
People with autism may also have other symptoms, such as
difficulty making decisions or coordinating,
communicating via other means besides spoken language (like typing or pointing),
needing help with their daily activities
having difficulty regulating or communicating their emotions.
Interestingly, some people on the autism spectrum may demonstrate unique strengths such as being great visual and auditory learners, remembering information for a long time and in detail, or even being exceptionally skilled in science, maths, the arts or other areas.
When I started researching this, I was concerned that maybe my friend was right 😂. But the more I read, the less likely it seemed.
So, you see that it takes quite a lot before a person is diagnosed with autism. But what are some barriers preventing this from happening? As I alluded to earlier, some myths surround autism, which we can look into next.
COMMON MYTH ABOUT AUTISM
I will admit that experts right now are not quite sure what causes autism. Researchers are doing extensive work to understand how autism develops, and so far, they've only identified certain factors that increase the risk of a person developing autism, such as:
Having a sibling with ASD
Having older parents (at the time of birth)
Certain genetic conditions, etc.
Most people with autism are usually diagnosed around 2 years of age. Coincidentally, this is around the age when children typically receive vaccinations, and so a popular myth developed that vaccines cause autism. Yet extensive work by researchers has not identified any link between vaccinations and autism.
Autism has been identified as far back as the 1900s, going by different names throughout history. It is a condition that possibly the existence of vaccines.
Also, some people think that autism is due to bad parenting. And while, yes, bad parenting is, well, not ideal, there is no evidence to say that this causes autism. Experts in the field do say that genes and environment have a role to play in how autism develops, but having just one of these (i.e. environmental factors in the form of lousy parenting) isn't the sole reason for a person having autism.
Experts are still working to figure out what causes autism. But while they do that, it helps to know right now: what kind of support and treatment does a person with autism need? Let's find out.
GETTING HELP
Autism does not have a cure, but there are lots of things that can help a person with autism build on their strengths and develop new skills. People with autism can live the life they want: get a job, fall in love 😁, make friends, and so forth. What's important is to know the kind of issues they have and the combination of treatment and support they need. It helps to make these decisions with a qualified professional.
So, what kind of treatment is available for autism? Well, this could be
Medication: to help deal with specific symptoms like irritability, aggression, attention problems, etc.
Psychological interventions: These help provide interventions that help them learn social, communication, and language skills, reduce behaviours that interfere with daily functioning, and even learn skills for living independently. It usually helps to involve family and caregivers in these interventions because some people on the autism spectrum need a high level of support.
Utilising support services: It helps to use any available support structure, such as online/onsite services, programs, or groups that offer help dealing with autism. And remember, these are not only available for the person with autism. As a caregiver/support for persons with autism, there could be services that could help you manage the demands of providing support. It always helps to share your burdens with others; it can help you feel less alone, knowing that someone else understands your experience and feelings.
CONCLUSION
So, do I have autism? Maybe not. Perhaps I might have a quirky way of thinking and doing things, or as another friend said, "You probably just missed being on the spectrum". (I know what you're thinking; I need new friends. 😂😂 My friends are great. I started some of these conversations)
I'll leave you with this: While autism means a person's way of experiencing the world falls outside the majority, that doesn't mean they can't do what they want. They can still have a beautiful life if they find the changes and support to help them thrive. And by doing that, they'll become the best version of themselves.
Thanks for reading. Remember to like, share, and
Until next time,
T.