How culture can change everything

Autism is a highly complex disorder that affects individuals across the globe in every country and so as a result the symptoms of autism vary on a cultural basis. This can severely impact the consistency and accuracy of diagnosis, where some individuals can go their entire lives without knowing they have autism and feel for all that time as though they are out of place or don't belong. In Australia with our multicultural population, migrant children are less likely to be diagnosed. Teachers, physicians and other carers sometimes assume that key signs which would indicate having autism such as social and communication deficits are instead a product of being a Non-English speaker or a behavioural component relating to culture.

On the other hand misdiagnosis occurs also, where in some Asian cultures, parents teach their children that reducing eye contact with authorities and elders is polite and a sign of respect. Australian physicians use this behaviour as a diagnostic feature to identify those with autism and so will assume that these individuals are in alignment with the typical presentation. When doctors are guided by standards for symptoms for only one group of individuals, they can make incorrect conclusions which can create confusion and unnecessary stress for families. We must recognise that there is great diversity in the presentation of autism that is highly influenced and interrelated to culture. It is absolutely necessary for general practitioners to take into consideration cultural elements while they give care and treatment to ensure that intervention and management is appropriate, equal and given at the earliest time in an individuals life.