Eight Common Myths About Autism

There’s a saying that if you’ve met one person on the autism spectrum, you’ve met one person on the autism spectrum.

Every autistic individual is unique, with their own interests, strengths, quirks, and ways of experiencing the world – just like anyone else. Unfortunately, autism is often misunderstood in the community. Misconceptions and myths can create barriers to understanding, leading to stigma or missed opportunities for support.

In this blog, we’ll address some of the most common myths about autism and share what the research and lived experiences of autistic people really show.

Myth 1: “Everyone is a little bit autistic”

It’s true that many people can relate to aspects of the autistic experience – such as preferring routines or disliking loud noises. But relating to something is not the same as living with the daily realities of autism.

This phrase can unintentionally minimise the challenges some autistic people face, leading to their challenges being dismissed. Autism is not simply a collection of quirky traits – it’s a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects how a person’s brain develops and processes the world around them.

Myth 2: Autism only affects boys

Although autism is more commonly diagnosed in boys, many autistic girls and women go undiagnosed or are identified later in life. A key reason is masking – which is the ability to hide or consciously suppress autistic traits in order to “fit in”.

Failing to recognise autism in girls and young women early can cause a myriad of issues. The longer these girls and young women are masking and internalising problems, the greater the stress and anxiety that grows within. We must look for the signs of autism in females and bypass the incorrect idea that autism is somehow a male condition.

In the simplest terms, the sooner diagnosis can happen, the sooner an autistic female can receive tailored support for her development and wellbeing, thereby giving her the best chance to thrive at the earliest possible age.

Myth 3: Autistic people lack empathy

This is one of the most persistent and damaging myths. In reality, autistic people experience the full range of human emotions, including empathy. The difference lies not in whether they feel empathy, but in how they express it.

Because autistic individuals may show emotions differently, their behaviours can sometimes be misinterpreted as cold or lacking care. But research shows empathy exists on a spectrum for both autistic people and neurotypical people alike.

In many cases, autistic individuals report deep empathy – even finding the emotions of others overwhelming.

Myth 4: Autistic people are anti-social

The fact is that we live in a predominantly neurotypical world where the expectations around social contact very much stem from a neurotypical perspective. This does indeed lead to some social situations and interactions being challenging to certain autistic people. This is not the same as not desiring social connections and relationships – it just means they are being judged socially by neurotypical standards.

In reality, many individuals on the autism spectrum want to, and do, form meaningful relationships if given the right support and understanding.

Myth 5: Parents are to blame for autism

This outdated idea is not supported by science. Autism is not caused by “bad parenting”. Research confirms that autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with strong genetic underpinnings.

Parents play no role in causing autism, but they play an enormous role in supporting their child’s growth, development, and wellbeing.

Myth 6: Autistic people have superpowers

Movies and TV shows – such as Rain Man – have fueled the belief that autism automatically comes with savant abilities in math, memory, or music. While some autistic people do possess exceptional talents, this is not the norm.

Autism is a spectrum, meaning abilities and challenges vary greatly between individuals. Highlighting only the “superpower” narrative can be harmful by creating unrealistic expectations or overlooking the very real support needs of many autistic people.

Myth 7: Autistic people don’t make eye contact

For some autistic individuals, eye contact is not instinctive. In social interactions, it can contribute to sensory overwhelm, adding to what is already a heightened sensory experience.

For some, maintaining eye contact while processing a conversation can feel like multitasking, which may be challenging due to their focused attention style.

Other autistic individuals have reported being accused of making “too much” eye contact. In social situations – faced with the pressures of neurotypical expectations – it can be easier to lock eye contact and ‘set and forget’ in order to free up some cognitive bandwidth to listen to what is being said.

In summary, autistic individuals experience eye contact in diverse ways, shaped by their monotropic brains, which often focus deeply on one stimulus at a time.

Interestingly, many autistic people find that eye contact is much easier to maintain in familiar, safe spaces, such as at home or with loved ones, indicating that there is variability in eye contact.

At the end of the day, meaningful communication can take place with or without eye contact, so let's look at ways to support communication between all neurotypes.

Myth 8: Vaccines cause autism

This is one of the most widely publicised and harmful myths about autism. Large-scale scientific studies and reviews have conclusively shown that there is no link between vaccines, including the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and the development of autism.

The notion that vaccines cause autism originated from a now-discredited study published in 1998, which has since been retracted for serious scientific misconduct. Many subsequent well-controlled studies have carefully compared vaccinated and unvaccinated children, consistently finding no difference in autism rates between the two groups.

Health experts around the world, including the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strongly agree: vaccines are safe, crucial for preventing disease, and do not cause autism.

Moving towards understanding

Breaking down these myths helps create a society that sees and supports autistic individuals for who they truly are – not through stereotypes or misinformation, but through respect and understanding.

Autism is not one-size-fits-all. By listening, learning, and appreciating neurodiversity, we can help create environments where autistic people feel valued, supported, and free to thrive.