Why is everyone suddenly neurodivergent? — Sabine Hossenfelder
Sabine Hossenfelder Scientific Opinion Summary
An introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder, the terminology, and the myths.
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Why is everyone suddenly neurodivergent? — Sabine Hossenfelder
Sabine Hossenfelder Scientific Opinion Summary
MAR 28, 2024
What is Autism?
First things first, what is autism? The term autism was introduced in 1911 by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler. He used it to describe what he believed to be a childhood version of schizophrenia. The term autism alludes to the Greek word autos, which means self, a word that Bleuler used because the children seemed to be detached from reality and withdrawn into their inner world even though they didn’t have smartphones back then. Autism was later recognized as a condition independent from schizophrenia. Today, the diagnosis of autism includes learning difficulties, especially with language and speech, trouble with verbal and non-verbal communication, avoiding eye contact, and repetitive movements.
Autistic people exhibit specialized and often obsessive interests or behaviors, difficulties with emotional control, and extreme reactions to stimuli. They may also have unusual abilities such as remarkable memory or mental arithmetic skills. This combination of cognitive problems and abilities led to the term ‘Idiot Savants,’ which has since been renamed to Savant Syndrome. Autism gained more awareness after the movie Rain Man in 1988.
The Evolution of Autism Spectrum Disorder Terminology
The movie was inspired by Kim Peek, a famous savant initially diagnosed with autism but later found to have FG syndrome. Asperger’s syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism, was described by Hans Asperger in 1943. However, psychologists now use the term Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to encompass a range of symptoms including Asperger’s syndrome, autism, and other developmental disorders.
Elon Musk’s reference to Asperger’s syndrome is outdated, as the term is no longer in use.
ASD is associated with difficulties in social interactions, language, cognitive function, anxiety, sleep problems, seizures, and gastrointestinal issues. Symptoms of ASD are typically diagnosed in early childhood and can persist throughout life, with varying expressions of the disorder. Symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder is measured on a scale of three levels, with level one indicating the lowest support needed and level three indicating the highest support needed. The term ‘autism spectrum disorder’ is often avoided due to its clunkiness.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects the development of the brain, particularly in social interaction and sensory control areas. The prevalence of ASD is around 1% worldwide, with higher rates in high-income countries. The number of ASD diagnoses has increased over the past two decades due to higher awareness and better screening. The fraction of those severely affected by ASD is decreasing, with only 31% of ASD children in the US classified with an intellectual disability in 2018. There are about four times more men than women diagnosed with ASD, and young girls are less likely to be diagnosed due to masking symptoms.
Masking in Girls with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Masking is a behavior where individuals copy facial expressions, social behavior, and memorize responses to fit in socially. While masking can help girls with social integration, it can lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. In girls, ASD may be masked by conditions like eating disorders or OCD, and they may be more successful at masking due to their social environment.
A 2017 study by American researchers observed 96 elementary school children, half with ASD. Girls with ASD weaved in and out of social activities in loose groups, making integration difficult to assess, while boys played organized games or alone, making their ASD more obvious. The sex difference in ASD diagnosis due to masking is unclear, but diagnosing girls requires different methods. ASD is typically diagnosed in childhood below age 5, with increasing awareness leading to more diagnoses in later life. Lack of diagnosis can make coping difficult, with 10% of suicide victims showing signs of undiagnosed autism. ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong hereditary component, with children of individuals with ASD more likely to have it. Various genes and environmental factors contribute to ASD, such as parental age correlating with higher ASD risk.
Debunking Autism Spectrum Disorder Myths
Vaccines do not cause ASD, contradicting a fraudulent paper that suggested otherwise in 1998. Vaccines also do not cause autism or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as corroborated by a 2014 meta-analysis of ten studies. Other factors such as caesarean sections, in vitro fertilization, plastics, diapers, bacterial infections, and watching YouTube are not responsible for ASD either. ASD is a lifelong condition with no cure. However, early diagnosis and intervention with targeted programs can enhance life satisfaction. Treatment encompasses medication, psychotherapy, and social support for children with ASD and their families. Non-verbal autistic individuals may benefit from picture cards or speech-generating devices. Early targeted programs can also enhance attention, overall outcomes, language development, social engagement, and can reduce the intensity of future symptoms.
The most successful programs involve parents and schools since understanding and addressing triggers has a significant impact. For instance, children with ASD may struggle with swift transitions between tasks or may not comprehend non-verbal cues; such situations can be largely avoided. They also often resort to repetitive motion, such as rocking or hand-flapping (known as stimming) to pacify themselves, and asking them to stop is counterproductive.
Awareness amongst people around them can have a significant effect. Additionally, some medications can help manage co-occurring symptoms like irritability, agitation, anxiety, or depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy might benefit some, but since symptoms of ASD vary significantly, there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, autism spectrum disorder is a mental health disorder. However, many individuals with ASD and other traditionally labeled disorders consider this classification inappropriate. They identify as neurodiverse rather than neurotypical. This term, coined in the late 1990s by Australian sociologist Judy Singer, also include conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia.
Singer contended that neurodiverse individuals had not been rightfully acknowledged in society and should cease to be pathologized. The neurodiversity movement converged with the American social justice movement and gained an extremist segment. Some advocates maintain that conditions like autism and ADHD are natural variations in human genetics. They argue against the ableist societal standards that define ‘normality’ and claim that these standards disadvantage and discriminate against neurodiverse individuals.
Some equate the idea of treating autism with the idea of treating homosexuality. For instance, the charitable organization Autism Speaks’ mission is to foster inclusion for all individuals with autism. They have partnered with Google on a project called Missing to develop a database to identify genetic variants associated with autism. Their aim is to identify many subtypes of autism and develop more personalized and effective treatments. In the past, conversations about neurodiversity in relation to autism has been subject to some criticism, such as the Autism Speaks neurodiversity community, about the representation of autism and other neurodivergent conditions. These days autism is romanticized along with the use of “functioning labels” such as “ablist” and “nuerotypical” have been criticized amidst these tense conversations.
Autism spectrum disorder is a mental health condition that encompasses what was previously known as autism and Asperger’s syndrome. It is more common than often perceived, affecting over one in a hundred individuals. While many individuals with autism spectrum disorder can lead relatively normal lives, they encounter challenges, particularly in work and social settings. Some individuals prefer to identify as neurodivergent and advocate for awareness of the difficulties they face. However, the neurodiversity movement has faced criticism for potentially downplaying the struggles of those with severe autism spectrum disorder. I have been accused multiple times of having autism or Asperger’s syndrome. I am frustrated with perception of rudeness and lack of empathy when discussing neurodiversity and autism spectrum symptoms.
