Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Media: Why the Prevalence of Television Characters with ASD is Increasing
“Asperger’s? Like autism? Max is not autistic! I’ve seen autistic kids!” This line, spoken by Peter Krause’s character on NBC’s “Parenthood”, is becoming more commonplace in television shows (Sepinwall). There can be no denying it- autism spectrum disorders have had an exponential increase in diagnosis in the past two decades, and popular culture is responding accordingly. The rapidly escalating rate of diagnosis has prompted medical professionals and the general public alike to push for (and achieve) a greater awareness, an awareness that is now presented through the inescapable medium of television.
National studies have shown the diagnosis rate of autism spectrum disorders to be around 1 in 100 children, but of even greater interest is how rapidly it took to reach this number. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has been working since 1990 in several metropolitan areas, studying the prevalence of autism in these communities, but the spectrum was first recognized back in 1943 (Wesolowski). In 1966, autism was diagnosed in approximately four out of every 10,000 children (Wesolowski). This rate remained constant until the early 1990s, when a 1996 Atlanta-based study increased that number tenfold, to thirty-four out of every 10,000. An independent researcher in Canada later reported findings of around sixty out of every 10,000 children in 2002 (Boyles). 2005 studies continued to indicate this rate, which translates into 0.6 out of every 100 children- not too far removed from the commonly accepted 1 in 100, which has held true into 2010.
With a rather alarming prevalence in society that has grown exponentially since the early 1990s, researchers have striven to determine the causes that have led to so many diagnoses. Indeed, many in the medical field believe that there are, in fact, more children with autism spectrum disorders, but better diagnosis criteria, higher awareness, and more recognition from health specialists are also critical factors (Wesolowski). It is important to note that autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed based on symptoms, because no actual cause of autism has been pinpointed to date. Studies conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention dating as far back as 1990 offer little clinical proof that environmental factors influence the development of autism (Boyles). It is possible that immunological causes play a role, but the recent disproval of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella as a potential agent seems to invalidate this argument; however, immunizations containing mercury are still under investigation and may later be validated as potential causes (Wesolowski). The last major area being studied, genetics, is the most promising as far as discovering a cause for autism, but the science in this field is still relatively new and it will take years before any groundbreaking developments occur. So, autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed based on it’s classic symptoms as defined by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: poor or underdeveloped communication skills, problems with social interaction, and the presence of odd routines and behaviors; additionally, and almost ironically, another key criterion is high or very high intelligence. Unfortunately, these criteria are rather broad, and with the exception of intelligence, cannot be measured quantitatively. Individuals who exhibit these symptoms may or may not have autism, though with a diagnosis rate of 1 in 100 children, it is logical to assume that healthcare providers know what they are looking for and are diagnosing autism correctly.
The skyrocketing prevalence of autism since 1990 had led to drastically increased public awareness of the disorder, practically to the point where mass media has no need to define it- it is assumed that the general public has at least a basic knowledge of the autism spectrum. Organizations such as the Autism Society of America and Autism Speaks were created and developed, and communities hold fundraising events to further research and help families who have a loved one with autism. The nation’s public education system provides students with autism spectrum disorders with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which, according to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, typically includes parents, teachers, caregivers, school psychologists, and other specialists as part of a group to help guide the child through his or her educational experiences. Psychological experts are often featured on news shows to discuss autism and related research and development. Increased awareness has also allowed for professionals to diagnose children at an earlier age. Since more is known about the condition, trademark symptoms are recognized early, resulting in referrals for suspected cases of autism to be issued years earlier compared to the ones issued in the early1990s. Patients as young as two years old are being placed on the autism spectrum disorder, down from five years of age, which was the normal timeframe for many years (Prior).
The heightened awareness and resulting publicity of autism spectrum disorders is actually viewed by some to be one of the causes of the increased rate of diagnosis. Research into the causes of autism affects the public perception and can lead to a higher level of case identification (Prior). In other words, the culture creates the idea of autism rather than the presence of autism affecting the culture. Many psychologists determine that they are seeing more children in their offices as a result of their parents expressing concern over their child demonstrating behavior similar to that of an autistic character in a fictional television show or movie. Although this is certainly true, little to no evidence exists to prove that this is a valid reason for the increased diagnosis rate (Prior). In these cases, popular culture merely served as the reason to have the child tested for autism at an earlier age. Had the parents not seen the disorder portrayed onscreen, they would have likely tested their child at a later age anyway, so the rate of diagnosis remains unaffected.
The presence of autism spectrum disorders in movies and television shows may not be a reason for its increased diagnosis, but there is no denying that higher awareness had led to the creation of more characters with the disorder or exhibiting some of the giveaway symptoms. Many of these characters have Asperger’s Syndrome, or high-functioning autism, meaning that the individual possesses many or all traits of autism but on a far less severe scale, with awkwardness in social situations and inability to read social cues being the most common elements (Rosen). For instance, Sheldon Cooper of CBS’ “Big Bang Theory”, an extremely intelligent scientist who exhibits many traits of Asperger’s, is all but clueless when it comes down to having a normal conversation with his peers (Rosen). Dr. Temperance Brennan and her assistant Dr. Zack Addy (he has two doctorates, in fact), both of Fox’s “Bones”, are experts in their respective disciplines and spend copious amounts of their free time cultivating one of two quirky hobbies (Bethune). Of course, there is also the lovable Dr. Gregory House (Fox’s “House, M.D.”), who is arguably smarter than his whole medical team combined but is brutally honest, sarcastic, and all but diagnosed with Asperger’s.
Were these characters created simply out of a producer’s ingenuity, or did they stem from an increased awareness of the disorder they attempt and succeed to portray? The creator of “The Big Bang Theory” chose not to diagnose Sheldon with Asperger’s, but did base him on computer programmers that were on the spectrum. The same story holds true for “Bones”- creator Hart Hanson based her on one of his friends with Asperger’s, but did not diagnose her at the request of Fox (Sepinwall). Both creators are contemplating storylines for future seasons in which their characters actually explore whether or not they have the disorder. Sure, the autism spectrum is extremely difficult to depict, and an incorrect portrayal on television would not only lead to discontent from the Asperger’s community, but also invoke fear in those viewers who have concerns over their children’s psychological health. However, Lori Shery, president and co-founder of New Jersey’s Asperger’s Syndrome Education Network, points out how beneficial a correct diagnosis of a character can be. “What it does is highlight the difficulties that (Asperger’s) kids have, in a way that an audience can understand” (Sepinwall).
Although many network television shows create characters with traits of Asperger’s and leave them undiagnosed, one show, NBC’s “Parenthood”, diagnosed one of its focal characters from the very beginning. The creator of the show revolved the storyline around his own personal experiences, resulting in the creation of Max Braverman as an eight-year old child with Asperger’s. It is the first television show to make autism spectrum disorders one of it’s key plot elements, and thus “Parenthood” has the potential to be a breakthrough in how popular culture portrays such a complicated issue. Says ASPEN’s Lori Shery, “ I am always happy when I see characters on TV who are portrayed with Asperger’s, when it’s done correctly” (Sepinwall). Clearly, NBC is making an impact with “Parenthood”. The increased awareness of the autism spectrum that fostered the development of the show is furthered by the show itself.
The correlation between autism spectrum disorders and popular culture, especially television, is essentially a cycle. More diagnoses create greater public awareness, leading to the creation of autistic or Asperger’s characters on television, creating even more awareness- why? The autism spectrum is as varied as the people placed on it, and hard evidence offering revelations as to the causes of the complication is still in the future, though perhaps in the not-so-distant future. It is imperative, though, to understand the people of the autistic realm. Their quirky interests, high intelligence, awkward social interaction- everything must be understood, or at least mentioned, because people with ASD are as much a part of the world as people without it. They deserve respect and recognition like all other people with mental or physical disabilities. Plus, as Bones, Zack, Sheldon, Max, and House are becoming household names, it is critical to note that people on the spectrum may be difficult to relate to, but the potential growth a person can experience as a result of an encounter with one of these people is immeasurable, and television is doing an excellent job of portraying this. Brian Bethune, in his article “Autistic license”, said it best: “Autism may be the distemper of our times…but as portrayed in pop culture, it’s as likely to invoke envy as fear.” Whether it invokes either is immaterial. The awareness of autism spectrum disorders that prompts the creation of, and stems from, television shows deepens our respect for unique people that, in their own right, will make a major difference in the world.
