What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism is defined as a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. The cause of autism is unknown, but oftentimes it is associated with a genetic disorder called fragile X syndrome, and genetic mutations can increase the possibility of having a child with autism. There are many misconceptions about Autism, so let's debunk some common assumptions made around the disorder! The most common misconception is that Autism is a disease. Autism is a lifelong neurological developmental disorder, not a disease. Another common myth is that autistic individuals cannot talk. Autistic individuals may have difficulty with communication, but the majority of them are not nonverbal. It is also widely believed that autistic people cannot form relationships. This can be true in some lights, but although it may be challenging for some, many can have fulfilling relationships! For example, my sister is autistic. Although she does face many challenges with forming relationships, her relationship with my family is incredibly fulfilling. I like to describe her as someone with a heart of gold, and I don't say that very often. She would not hurt a fly. She has and always will be my best friend, and I would not change growing up with a sister with autism for the world. She has taught me to always be patient and to always be kind. Looking back, it almost felt like I had to grow up faster than my peers. It was frustrating at times when I felt my parents would give her more attention than they would give to me. It was also frustrating at times to hear her screaming and crying. As she's grown older, she's matured and has become a kind-hearted young woman. 

MRI brain scans of a child with autism and without autism (Source)

The discoveries made through this MRI brain scan revealed that a child with autism is much less likely to appeal to social interaction. They often find it hard to understand how others feel or think. Unfamiliar situations, bright lights, and loud noises can be incredibly stressful and cause an autistic individual to feel anxious. Did you know that there are three different commons forms of autism? They are autistic disorder (typically classified as "classic autism,") asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder- not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Common symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder are social communication and behavioral challenges, repetitive movements, poor eye contact, repetition of words or actions, speech delays, limited attention span, etc. Some people with autism may require consistent support with day-to-day activities, others require support but can live a little more independently. 

The autism spectrum (Source)

This is the commonly used "autism spectrum." There are three types of autism pictured on the spectrum; high-functioning autism, autism, and severe autism.  High-functioning autism is often known as an individual who displays no intellectual disability but may display delays in communication, inability to recognize emotion, delayed social interaction, etc. Autism has all of these symptoms but at a slightly more severe level. These individuals usually have an intellectual disability and may have difficulty learning. Severe autism is someone who is in constant need of support. Many of these individuals are nonverbal, display repetitive behaviors, can be aggressive, and require help for normal day-to-day activities. I would put my sister somewhere in between high-functioning autism and autism. She is verbal, but she does experience low levels of social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and has difficulty learning at times. 

The MMR Hypothesis (Source)

In the mid-1990s, a group of researchers published a hypothesis that individuals who had received the MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella vaccine) were more likely to be diagnosed with autism than individuals who had not received the vaccine. One of these researchers, Andrew Wakefield, (article about Wakefield) further studied a possible link between the vaccine and autism. His hypothesis was that the vaccine caused disruption of the intestinal tissue that led to autism. He published his study where he and his co-researchers studied 12 cases in which many of them exhibited symptoms of autism. Although his study stated that they could not demonstrate a casual relationship between the MMR vaccination and autism, his findings through these 12 individuals caused an international panic. He recommended that the MMR vaccine be suspended. His study was found to be fatally flawed, and over the next couple of years, no reliable study confirmed his hypothesis. In fact, many studies have been done to find that there is no relationship between the MMR vaccine and autism. Wakefield was soon banned from practicing medicine as he was found to be a fraud. 

Autism is a lifelong neurological developmental disorder with incredible stigma surrounding it. Autistic individuals are often very misunderstood. There is currently no real explanation for how autism is created, and there is no cure for the disorder. As I've grown up and I've begun to learn more and more about autism, having an autistic sister has changed my view on life and will forever change how I perceive my peers. It is important to always be patient and always be kind to these individuals because this neurological disorder has so many missing pieces that are yet to be discovered.