What is Autism

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, its signs and the myths around it.

HomeWhat is Autism

What is autism?

Autism (or Autism Spectrum Disorder — ASD) is a developmental disorder. In autistic individuals, there are certain differences in their brains that cause them to be autistic. The reason it's called Autism Spectrum Disorder is because it varies in severity across individuals. The symptoms of one autistic person differ from those of another.

Causes

What causes autism? The truth is, we don't quite know. As the NIH (National Institute of Health) states, "there are probably many causes for autism". Autism is unique. It is very much possible that it is also caused by a combination of causes all at once.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing autism is difficult because there is no special medical test to diagnose it. Although autistic individuals can receive a reliable diagnosis by the age of 2, most of them do not receive a proper diagnosis until they are much older. This means these autistic people cannot receive the support they need early on.

Symptoms and behaviours

Avoids or does not keep eye contact.
Does not respond to name by 9 months of age.
Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry and surprised by 9 months of age.
Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age.
Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye).
Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age.
Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age.
Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age.
Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age.
Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age.
Does not sing, dance or act for you by 60 months of age.

In their daily lives, these behaviours may prevent autistic people from communicating properly and maintaining friendships. Autistic individuals have varying levels of ability — some require very little support, others require constant support.

Autism Misunderstandings

Let's dispel the common myths

According to the CDC, 1 in 59 children born in the USA have ASD. Despite this large number, there are still many myths and misconceptions around ASD. It is important that we dispel these so that everyone correctly understands autism.

Myth

"Autistic people cannot live independently in the future"

This may seem to be true before a person with ASD undergoes therapy. However, with the right therapists, teachings and support, an autistic person can learn basic abilities and skills. At Dawn, we teach our students vocational skills, such as repackaging soaps and wrapping chocolates, to prepare them for the real world. They have become very good at their work! We also teach them public speaking and provide speech therapy to make communication easier for them.

Myth

"All autistic people have special gifts or are gifted"

The media often portrays autistic children as gifted, causing people to believe that every autistic person is gifted. The actual chances of an autistic person being gifted are low — they have the same IQ range as non-autistic people. This is not to say that your child is disabled in every aspect of themselves. Every child has their own strengths. At Dawn, we try to identify their unique strengths, such as music or reading, and nurture them.

Myth

"Vaccines cause autism"

No, vaccines do not cause autism. A comprehensive report from the Institute of Medicine examined over 1000 studies and found no link between vaccines and autism.