This autism spectrum disorder is debated, wrongly, between two waters. The series are publicizing this disorder, but do they reflect reality?
They are increasingly starring in series and in these they are portrayed as hyper-rational and intelligent people (often involved in solving criminal cases), with enormous talent but, at the same time, with serious socialization problems and difficulties in understanding the emotions of others. . We are talking about Asperger syndrome. Characters like Shaun Murphy from ‘The Good Doctor’, Sonya Cross in ‘The Bridge’ or Gil Grissom in ‘CSI’, as well as well-known faces like Bill Gates or Elon Musk have helped us to have a positive image of this Autism Spectrum Disorder (TEA), although this image showing fiction is not very realistic. In fact, not all people who suffer from this developmental disorder are extremely intelligent and only 10% of those affected have high abilities, according to the Asperger Confederation Spain. Not everyone is isolated or reluctant to show their feelings either.
So this very stereotypical image that we see on the screen works as a double-edged sword for medical experts. Since, on the one hand, these series serve to sensitize society about this disorder but, on the other, they convey a vague and superficial knowledge of what it means to live with people who have Asperger’s. “The diversity is enormous. There is not an ASD person the same as another, just as it happens with the rest of the people. However, there are a number of common qualities, mainly in relation to communication and social interaction, and cognitive and behavioral rigidity. This does not mean that what characterizes ASD people are exclusively negative aspects”, explains Paula Jiménez Sevilla, general health psychologist at the Madrid Asperger Association.
Neither double meanings nor ironies
People with this disorder interpret the world differently because their brain has been shaped differently. And, biologically, what is behind it is a neurological development disorder that accompanies them from the moment of birth. It is not a disease.
In relation to the interpretation of words, they do not follow the usual guidelines to participate in a conversation, they have restricted interests to particular topics, they have difficulties to understand some abstract concepts and they tend to interpret the language literally, without understanding double meanings , puns, ironies or metaphors. They also tend to maintain ritualistic behaviors and present stress in the face of changes and unforeseen events.
In Spain, 30% of the 450,000 people with autism spectrum disorder have this neurodevelopmental disorder.
The expert explains that the obstacles of people with this mild autism have to be approached from an empathic and constructive point of view. If the appropriate interventions are used, these difficulties will simply become other characteristics of the person, “accepting diversity as a reality of our society”, which can be treated, compensated and “generate real equality of opportunities”.
Ignacio Pantoja is a biologist, has a master’s degree in Neuroscience and studies Pharmacy. He has written ‘We autistic people also want to be close’, a book in which he claims neurodiversity, a space for people with autism spectrum disorder and to make visible the rights of their community. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s at age 18 and understood why he had had so much trouble in his life. «If I have social phobia it is because of bullying, not because of TEA. It is not a disease and we must claim ourselves as normal people. We do not want to be cured but to be understood. I try to make friends like anyone else, we have feelings and empathy », he recounts in a talk at the University of Zaragoza.
Early attention
Asperger’s syndrome has the peculiarity that its symptoms are so subtle that it is often difficult to detect early, according to María José Mas, neuropediatrician and author of the book ‘The brain in its labyrinth’. “There are no delays in the appearance of the first words or formulation of sentences. However, it can be intuited in relationships with the environment and with others, as well as in unusual interests».
The expert indicates that the faster it is detected, the sooner the necessary actions can be initiated to help you develop the skills to overcome your barriers. “Many diagnoses are made after the age of 7, even in adolescence or adulthood.” Hence the importance of early attention to offer adequate tools to help calm their anxiety, alleviate their loneliness and establish relationships with others. “The sooner support needs begin to be worked on, the better the adaptation to the environment, the achievement of the established objectives and the satisfaction of the person”, points out Jiménez Sevilla.
Regarding the warning signs, the neuropediatrician sticks to three important moments in babies: that at 9 or 10 months they do not show interest in people or their reactions, that at one year they do not respond to their name or do not point out the objects that he wants while looking at his interlocutor and that at 2 years he is not able to play in an imaginative, varied way and “pretending that…”.
Characteristics of this disorder
1) Deficits in social communication and social interaction.
2) Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to certain sensory stimuli.
3) Restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
4) Obsessive behavior in some situations.
5) Inflexibility of thought.
6) Resistance to accept change.
7) Have difficulty understanding body language.
8) Difficulty making friends.
9) Literality: understands language according to the exact meaning of words, so they often do not understand jokes, jokes, metaphors or sarcasm.
10) Nervousness when in large social groups.