April is World Autism Month, and we want to participate by celebrating and honoring individuals with autism. These are beautiful people with unique gifts and experiences that they bring to the world. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often misunderstood due to outdated stereotypes and misinformation. Many people question whether they might have autism based on incomplete or misleading information. Our culture has even begun to swing the other way, popularizing ASD criteria on platforms such as TikTok and leading many to potentially misdiagnose themselves. In this blog, I want to identify and disprove a few common myths about autism so that we can move forward with increased clarity and insight.
Myth 1: Autism is only diagnosed in childhood
While autism is often identified in early childhood, many individuals are not diagnosed until later in life. Many adults, especially those who are high-masking or who grew up without awareness of autism traits, may not recognize their autistic traits until adulthood. Late diagnosis can still provide valuable self-understanding and access to support that might not have come otherwise.
Myth 2: All people with autism have intellectual differences
Autism is a spectrum, meaning individuals have a wide range of abilities. Some people with autism have intellectual struggles, while others have average or above-average intelligence. The common thread is differences in sensory processing, communication, and social interaction—not intelligence level.
Myth 3: Autism only affects social skills
While social differences are a core characteristic, autism also impacts sensory processing, executive functioning, and emotional regulation. Many individuals with autism experience heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input like lights, sounds, or textures. They may also struggle with organization, transitions, and regulating emotions.
Myth 4: People with autism lack empathy
This is one of the most damaging misconceptions. Many individuals with autism experience deep empathy but may express it differently than people without autism. Some struggle to interpret social cues, while others feel emotions so intensely that they become overwhelmed, but those with autism experience a range of emotions along with everyone else.
Myth 5: Autism shows up the same in every individual
People with autism have diverse social behaviors. Some make eye contact, while others find it uncomfortable. Many individuals with autism form close friendships but may navigate socializing in unique ways. Masking, or consciously mimicking neurotypical behavior, can also make autism less noticeable to others.
Taking time to learn from the voices of those with autism in your life can be one of the greatest sources of insight. Dispelling myths like these helps create a more welcoming and informed society where individuals with autism can thrive. Finally if you wonder whether you or even your child might have autism, I encourage you to seek an evaluation from a trained professional. At Restoration Psychology, we are able to provide this service at a reduced rate with our
testing extern supervised by
Dr. Jessica Pae. We also have a number of clinicians here to provide therapy for
individuals,
couples or
families for whom autism is part of their experience.
Reach out to us today.