Have you ever wondered if your child is autistic? “Autism” is a loaded word, and it comes with many misconceptions. In our next two articles, we’ll demystify ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and get a better look at what a diagnosis really means.

Some of the most pervasive myths about ASD are about its origin. There is no evidence that autism is caused by vaccinations or by a certain parenting style.

Research suggests that autism is linked to genetic factors (it tends to run in families) as well as environmental factors (like prenatal exposure to air pollution and advanced age of parents). However, the cause of autism is very complex and not fully understood.

Another misconception about ASD is that it is becoming an “epidemic.” The number of diagnoses has indeed increased in recent years. However, that is mainly due to changes in awareness and the way ASD is diagnosed.

For one thing, 30 years ago, not every parent or pediatrician knew what autism was. As awareness has increased, so have resources. Now, parents can not only get a diagnosis for their children, but they know there is help available if they do have an ASD diagnosis.

There have also been some key changes in the way autism is diagnosed. In 2013, the DSM-5 changed to make ASD an umbrella diagnosis that replaced a handful of other diagnoses. This made the number of people with ASD increase overnight.

Furthermore, in the past, healthcare providers couldn’t diagnose someone with both autism and ADHD. Now, they can, making both diagnoses more common, as they often occur together.

Research shows that the number of children with ASD has probably increased slightly, but it still doesn’t meet the criteria of an epidemic.

In fact, autism is not a disease at all but a neurodevelopmental disorder. This just means that something about a person’s brain development and function is different from the “norm.”

Like any person, people with autism have unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses. Their neurological differences are not necessarily problems, and many people with autism consider it a crucial part of their identity that they would not change.

If you would like to have your child screened for ASD, consider calling Help Me Grow Utah (https://helpmegrowutah.org), a free service to help parents answer their parenting and child-development questions and link them to the resources they need.

Also, keep an eye out for our next EveryDay Learners article where we’ll continue answering frequently asked questions about autism!

Avery Stonely is the EveryDay Learners operations coordinator for United Way of Utah County.