Common myths, actual facts.
"Autism is caused by vaccines."
Comprehensively, repeatedly, and conclusively disproven. Dozens of large-scale studies across multiple countries have found no link. The original 1998 paper that started the rumour was retracted, and its author lost his medical licence for fraud.
Autism is largely heritable and present from birth.
Twin and family studies estimate genetic contribution at 70–90%. Brain differences are visible in early infancy, long before any environmental "cause" could plausibly act.
"ADHD is just bad parenting or screens."
ADHD has been documented in medical literature for over 200 years, long before screens existed. While environment shapes how symptoms present, ADHD itself is a neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic basis.
ADHD brains differ in structure and chemistry.
Imaging studies show consistent differences in the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, and dopamine pathways. Heritability sits around 70–80%, comparable to height.
"Girls and women rarely have autism or ADHD."
They're diagnosed less, not affected less. Both conditions present differently in girls — more masking, more internalised symptoms — and historic diagnostic criteria were built almost entirely on studies of boys.
Late diagnosis in adults is now common.
Many women, non-binary people, and Black and brown adults are being diagnosed in their 30s, 40s, and beyond — often after a child's diagnosis prompts self-recognition. The relief is real. The grief for lost years is also real.
"You can grow out of it."
You don't grow out of autism or ADHD. What changes is your strategies, your environment, and how well you've learned to mask — sometimes at significant personal cost.
Support and self-knowledge change everything.
The condition is lifelong; the suffering associated with it is not inevitable. Understanding your own brain, building a fitting environment, and finding community are transformative.