Introduction
Autism is a disorder that develops in an individual due to differences in the brain. Autism happens to be most prevalent among children than in older adults. Differences in social interaction and communication also cause autism. The condition alters an individual’s behaviors. The major causes of autism include metabolic imbalances, viral infection due to maternal history, exposure to environmental toxins, genetic disorders, and low birth weight. In addition, autism can also be hereditary, where a family member has the disorder. Most people with autism tend to have repetitive behaviors and miscommunication problems. Although autism has negative effects, it is also accompanied by several positive effects and benefits. The tests to diagnose autism include genetic tests, evaluations, and several screenings. On the contrary, most researchers propose that vaccines do not cause autism spectrum disorder. This paper analyses the benefits and advantages of having autism as a disorder.
Memorizing capability
Most people with autism tend to have a good memory and the ability to learn information quickly. Russell et al. (2019,p.12) affirm that 99% of people with autism memorize things and situations faster than people who do not have autism. Autistic people can also remember situations that happened a long time ago compared to short time memories. For instance, autistic children can memorize things in class faster than children without autism. Autistic people also tend to have high visual cues where they can view things differently. For instance, children with autism can concentrate in class and also have the ability to capture things taught in class. Students with the autism spectrum are more likely to be visual learners and retain more of what they read if exposed to compelling visual images. On the contrary, those people with autism also have some minor difficulties where not all people with autism can retain information for long.
Accuracy level
People with autism can construct and compare mental representations to those who do not have autism. Park et al. (2016, p.13) assert that 94% of children with autism have a high tendency to be accurate compared to those who are less autistic. Autistic is more accurate in terms of their actions and deeds. The accuracy makes them have a high capability in alternative problem-solving. Autistic people have different ways of approaching things or situations and problems. They can deal with complex problems. For instance, students with autism can perform well in technical subjects, including mathematics and engineering. They also outperform those without autism regarding the accuracy and speed of their cognitive processing. The connections from the associative or motor cortex visual region, which sends efference copies to the visual cortex, are unaffected in autistic individuals, which may account for the reduced connectivity between both the visual area and the somatosensory area. People with autism may have a visual advantage when designing the actions for comedic characters, but this same technique may be linked to a weakness in mentalizing accuracy.
The accuracy makes them have a high capability in alternative problem-solving. Autistic people can devise new ways or alternative means of solving problems. They have a different ways in which they approach things. Thus most autistic people tend to be creative. Children born with autism tend to be geniuses in the future. Examples of philosophers who had autism include Plato, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton. These three philosophers proved that autism could not limit individuals from achieving their goals and objectives. Research conducted by (Hodges, Fealko, and Soares 2020, par9) affirms that Isaac Newton was not too social and only focused on his work without socializing with people. This shows that most people with autism prefer having their personal space without interacting with their environment. Therefore having autism helps someone to be more focused on their deeds.
High level of intelligence
People with autism tend to have high levels of intelligence when compared to people who do not have autism. Intelligence, in this case, is linked to sensory and visual capability, long-term memory, and the ability to pay more attention to situations or lessons (Hodges, Fealko, and Soares 2020, par 10). They can distinguish subtle differences in stimuli that would be difficult for others to perceive because of their hyperawareness. This reflects their dynamic nature. When all of these characteristics come together, people with autism may acquire a set of skills that allows them to perform tasks and showcase talents in a profound and impressive way. People with a high level of intelligence and individuals with autism seem “different” from the normal neurotypical person, but they share many similarities. Autistic characteristics serve as a remarkable demonstration of the breadth and depth of the human brain.
Moreover, autistic people’s memories can approach or even surpass photographic levels. Some people on the spectrum may amaze you with their memory for specifics, even if they can’t recall your name or face. It’s possible that they have a better memory than the “average” person and can recall details that others might have forgotten, such as rhythms of colors, figures, and letters. Having a keen eye for detail is another indicator of high intelligence. However, most researchers focus on the negative effects of having autism rather than being neutral by focusing on both strengths and weaknesses of autism. Therefore most actions performed by autistic people tend to reveal a high level of intelligence among them.
Conclusion
As a developmental disorder, autism lasts a person’s entire life. Few people with autism exhibit the full range of the disorder’s symptoms. These include delayed or stunted language development, a lack of social awareness or interaction, and rigid behavioral patterns. When caring for a child with autism, it is important to educate yourself as much as possible about the disorder, available therapies, and resources to ensure your child receives the best care possible. Autism has both positive and negative effects on an individual’s life. Some of the strengths of autism include high intelligence levels, increased memorizing and learning of information quickly, and great memory capability. Autism can be treated through communication and behavioral therapies. Thus people with autism should not be stigmatized as they also play a significant role in society and should be given an equal chance to participate in activities that will improve their cognitive ability. Autistic people should not be discriminated against because they have a weakness in socializing; rather, they should be treated with respect and dignity.
Hodges, Holly, Casey Fealko, and Neelkamal Soares. “Autism Spectrum Disorder: Definition, Epidemiology, Causes, And Clinical Evaluation.” Translational Pediatrics 9.S1 (2020): S55-S65. Web. 12 Sept. 2022.
Park, Hye Ran, et al. “A Short Review On The Current Understanding Of Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Experimental Neurobiology 25.1 (2016): 1-13. Web. 12 Sept. 2022.
Russell, Ginny, et al. “Mapping The Autistic Advantage From The Accounts Of Adults Diagnosed With Autism: A Qualitative Study.” Autism in Adulthood 1.2 (2019): 124-133. Web. 12 Sept. 2022.