Setting the Record Straight on Autism Myths
"A psychiatrist disputes his statements about autism, claiming they are inaccurate"
In a recent campaign, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) has been spreading misinformation about autism, claiming it as an inevitable condition that destroys families. But what's fact and what's fiction? Let's separate the wheat from the chaff.
Are we really facing an "autism epidemic"?
Marc Lanovaz, the scientific director of the University Institute for Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder, admits that there's been a significant increase in autism diagnoses. However, he disagrees with the term "epidemic." "The word epidemic is often associated with diseases, whereas autism is not a contagious condition," he explains.
Increase in cases
The rise in autism cases was initially due to better diagnostic tools leading to more accurate diagnoses. Thirty years ago, an autistic person might have been labeled as antisocial, different, or a nerd, asserts Mr. Lanovaz. However, in recent years, some non-autistic individuals have also been diagnosed due to vague criteria, notes Laurent Mottron, a psychiatrist and international research leader on autism.
RFK's promised "study" on the causes of an "autism epidemic"
"Without a doubt, autism is familial," says Dr. Mottron. But even if autism is familial, he stresses that whether one is or isn't autistic is virtually random. He discards the idea of finding "a cause" for autism since, if there were an environmental cause, it would act the same way on identical twins with the same genes. Dr. Mottron views autism as a simple human possibility, like left-handedness.
RFK's stereotypes about autistic individuals
Upon hearing RFK's statements, Dr. Mottron reacted with disbelief and anger. "Yes, there are autistic people who present significant challenges and make life difficult for their families. But it's a minority," he comments. He considers RFK's remarks about autistic people never paying taxes, working, or using the toilet without help as false and stigmatizing.
The myth of vaccines causing autism
RFK has long argued that vaccines cause autism, a claim repeatedly debunked by the scientific community. This myth originated from a discredited study by British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield in 1998, which has since been proven to be fabricated. Despite this, some individuals still hold this belief.
Other common autism myths
- Autism is caused by parenting: false.
- Screens cause autism: no science-backed link exists between autism and screen use.
- Autistic people are savants: while some individuals with autism may possess exceptional talents, not all do, and academic difficulties are common.
- Autistic people prefer to be alone: many autistic individuals want social interactions.
- In the context of health-and-wellness and mental-health, it's crucial to debunk the misconception that parenting causes autism, a claim proven to be false.
- Regarding science and the environment, there's no evidence supporting the idea that excessive screen time or screens themselves cause autism, contradicting many widespread assumptions.
