Myths About Autism & Learning Abilities
When it comes to understanding autism and the learning abilities of children on the spectrum, there are many myths that need to be debunked. Every child with autism is unique, and our goal at Children’s Milestone is to focus on your child’s individual strengths and weaknesses in order to help them reach their full potential. Keep reading to understand more truths about autism and your child’s learning abilities, and reach out to us at Children’s Milestone in Laurel, MD to learn more about our programs and ABA therapy.
Myth #1: Children With Autism Have Mental Disabilities
As we mentioned earlier, all children with autism have their own unique capabilities and intellectual abilities. Some children on the spectrum have mental disorders that are not caused by or associated with autism. Where some children with autism may excel intellectually, others may struggle, and many fall right in the middle.
Myth #2: A Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder Cannot Develop New Skills
As every child with ASD has unique learning abilities and developmental capabilities or challenges, this myth could not be further from the truth. Children with ASD may require a special kind of support and education based on their unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning style, but ABA therapy at Children’s Milestone has been proven effective in doing just that.
Myth #3: Children With Autism are Either Non-Verbal or a Genius
This is another myth that is far from the truth; Autism Spectrum Disorder is a spectrum. In fact, it’s well known throughout the ASD community that no two children or individuals with autism are alike. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that ranges from mild differences in communication and social skills to significant deficits in other children. In fact, up to 40% of children on the spectrum may be non-verbal, but they still may have special skills or talents verbal children with ASD may not have.
Myth #4: Children With Autism Cannot Feel or Understand Emotions
This is a common myth about autism, however, it’s very important to understand that children with ASD do feel emotions, they just may struggle to communicate their emotions in a way that adults or other children may understand. The more time you spend focusing on your child’s unique needs, strengths, and weaknesses, the easier it will be to understand the emotions that they may be trying to convey at any given moment.
At Children’s Milestone in Laurel, we’re here to help parents and families of children with ASD better understand an autism diagnosis in order to give the best care possible. If you have more questions about ASD, be sure to visit our FAQ page, or get in touch with us today.