6 (Questionable) Reasons Why People Fear Autism
Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD
Some disorders lead to terminal illness. Some involve severe, chronic pain. Some involve terrifying hallucinations. Autism involves none of these.
Yet over the years, autism has been portrayed as one of the most frightening and upsetting possible diagnoses—a parent's nightmare. The reality, in the vast majority of cases, is very different. In fact, many autistic people are intelligent, interesting, caring people. They have varying strengths and abilities.
This article explores why some people fear autism. It sets forth some facts about autism on key issues that often lead to fear and misunderstanding among neurotypical people.
Scary Portrayals of Autism That Influence Public Opinion
Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that autistic people can show a wide range of traits. Some have high support needs, while others (sometimes called high-functioning) have lower support needs.
Some traits are more disabling than others. That reality is rarely considered when autism is presented in the media, for example.
Takeaway
People who cast autism as a "difference" tend to speak or write positively about people with low support needs, often those with extraordinary talents. People who focus on autism as a disorder lean toward autistic people with high support needs and ill-equipped caregivers. Neither extreme is always true.
Scary Realities About Autism
In rare cases, the experience of autism really is overwhelming, dangerous, and frightening. In most cases, however, the fear is out of proportion to the reality. Why, then, are so many people frightened of an autism disorder? Here are some facts that may explain otherwise unexplainable fears.
Many autism traits are entirely outside the experience of others. You can't just close your eyes, plug your ears, or sit in a wheelchair to get a sense of what it's like to be an autistic person. As a result, many people see autism as wholly "other" and entirely unrelatable.
The causes of autism are not well understood. In general, people like to feel that they can protect themselves and their children from illness and injury. They use child car seats, buy organic fruit, see healthcare providers, and otherwise do everything they can to stay well. But there's really very little anyone can do to avoid the risk of autism. You can avoid medications or alcohol during pregnancy, and move away from chemical factories that belch toxic fumes, but most autism is of unknown cause. You may have an autistic child for no clear reason at all.
There is no treatment for autism that will "cure" the disorder. It's bad enough to have a bacterial infection, but at least you know that if you take antibiotics you'll almost certainly recover. But neither behavioral therapies nor special diets nor hyperbaric chambers will actually cure autism. A disorder without a cure (or even a reliable remedy for its traits) is scary.
Autistic kids (and adults) behave differently from other people. If there's one thing experience teaches us, it's the fact that differences can be scary. Autistic kids are taught to avoid "unexpected" behaviors—not because they are in any way harmful, but because the rocking, flapping, or word repetition frightens people.
Parents and grandparents are often frightened by autism because they fear the worst for their child. They assume that their child will be left out, bullied, ignored, or even abused. They believe that after they die their child will be a helpless pawn in the world of government agencies. And they don't, in general, seem to believe that they can avoid this potential problem by planning for it.
Some parents and grandparents are frightened by autism because they expect (or experience) negative judgments on their gene pool, their parenting, or their ability to discipline their child. These fears are reasonable: people are judgmental and will make unwarranted assumptions. Whether this is cause enough for serious anxiety depends, of course, upon the person being judged and how the judgment is communicated.
Summary
If you're caring for an autistic child, it's likely you've encountered fear of autism in others (or even in yourself). Autism can seem scary because of unfamiliar and unexpected behaviors, the potential for social isolation and professional limitations, or simply because the cause of autism remains unclear.
There are plenty of reasons to feel anxious on behalf of yourself and your child. You may have to make unexpected changes in your lifestyle, and you'll have unanticipated expenses. In the vast majority of cases, however, all these changes are manageable, and support systems are available through schools, support groups, family, and friends.
