{"id":155559,"date":"2023-06-01T13:12:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T11:12:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=155559"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:49","slug":"sheldon-cooper-and-sherlock-holmes-are-not-actually-good-representations-of-people-with-autism-euc-students-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/06\/01\/sheldon-cooper-and-sherlock-holmes-are-not-actually-good-representations-of-people-with-autism-euc-students-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheldon Cooper and Sherlock Holmes are not actually good representations of people with autism, EUC students learn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Students at Erasmus University College discuss the biological and social aspects of autism during the lecture Genes, Brains and Society<\/em>. Lecturer Aleksandra Badura: “The representation of people with autism in popular culture is not realistic.”<\/p>\n

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\u201cVaccines do not cause autism\u201d, stressed lecturer Aleksandra Badura. She explained what genetic mutations occur in people with autism spectrum disorders, which is an umbrella term for neurodevelopmental disorders of social communication and interaction.<\/p>\n

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The rumour that vaccines cause autism started in 1998 when British anti-vaccine activist and doctor Andrew Wakefield claimed in a study that there was a causal link between the BMR vaccine (against mumps, measles and rubella) and autism. \u201cBut it all turned out to be a lie! The data had been falsified, the whole study was fabricated\u201d, Badura said. Follow-up studies have shown that there is no link at all between vaccines and autism. \u201cUnfortunately, this rumour is so persistent that some people refuse to have their children vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Lecture:<\/strong>\u00a0Genes, Brains and Society (Monday afternoon 15:15, Lecture Hall 2, EUC building)<\/p>\n

Lecturer:<\/strong>\u00a0Aleksandra Badura and Anderson Mora Cortes<\/p>\n

Subject:<\/strong>\u00a0Autism<\/p>\n

Audience:<\/strong> Four Life Sciences students sat in the lecture room. The other ten were missing in action. “It’s exam week, so maybe they are studying hard?”, one student shrugged. But absent students may also have been partying hard with Feyenoord, as the lecture was on the same day as the inauguration day.<\/p>\n

Reason to follow the lecture:<\/strong>\u00a0You get to hear all about different disorders. It’s a small group, and you know everyone, so copying notes is not an issue.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Unrealistic representation<\/h2>

Four students were scattered around the room, focused on lecturer Badura\u2019s PowerPoint presentation. Lecturer Anderson Mora Cortes was also following the lecture from the back of the room. The students had a tutorial with him scheduled later in the week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think about autism in TV series or films, which character comes to mind?\u201d, lecturer Badura asked. Students mentioned a number of names: Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory<\/em>, Shaun Murphy from The Good Doctor<\/em>, Sam from Atypical, <\/em>and the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.<\/p>\n

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The lecturer\u2019s next slide showed the pictures of exactly these named characters. Badura: \u201cAnd what do they have in common?\u201d According to a student with curly hair: \u201cThat they are very intelligent and hyper-focused.\u201d A student beside him added: \u201cAnd anti-social.\u201d<\/p>\n

The representation of people with autism in popular culture is unrealistic, according to lecturer Badura. \u201cPeople with autism are portrayed as super-smart, anti-social, high-functioning people who need little to no care, which can be very different in reality\u201d, Badura said.<\/p>\n

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She then played a YouTube video<\/a> showing an adult with severe autism undergoing behavioural therapy. He was made to perform simple exercises, such as learning to drink and walk. He could not speak and had motor problems, making him dependent on his family\u2019s care. \u201cThat\u2019s how severe it can be.\u201d So it is not true that all people with autism are exceptionally intelligent. \u201cOnly about 0.06% have the so-called savant syndrome. These people have extraordinary skills, such as an excellent memory, mathematical skills or perfect hearing\u201d, said Badura.<\/p>\n

Social aspects<\/h2>
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Em listened intently to Badura\u2019s story. The Life Sciences student is very interested in how neurodevelopmental disorders develop, she said. \u201cAnd I also know people with autism. I think it\u2019s really cool that I\u2019m learning this, so I can get a better idea about how to deal with it.\u201d She also finds it interesting that this course discusses more than just the biological aspects. \u201cIt\u2019s also about the social aspects: what impact does such a disorder have on people\u2019s social life, what stigma does it carry and what can we do to get rid of the stigma? It\u2019s a fascinating subject.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Early diagnosis<\/h2>

It is crucial that children with autism are diagnosed and receive therapy as early as possible, according to Badura. \u201cWhy do you think that is?\u201d, she asked the students.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the therapy is more effective then?\u201d, one student guessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly, research shows that the earlier the intervention, the better the outcome\u201d, Badura explained. \u201cThe first two years of life are crucial \u2013 that\u2019s when you can get the most out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Student Theresa said she gained a lot of new insights from this lecture. \u201cFor example, I didn\u2019t know that there are crucial years for certain neurological developments, such as vision and language development in babies and toddlers\u201d, she continued. \u201cThis lecture uses a lot of case studies and recent studies. We compare old and new studies to give us a better understanding of how disorders have been studied over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Student Gabriel likes the small group of students. \u201cYou know everyone, and that makes it nicer to work together.\u201d The lecturers are also cool, added student Challah. Lecturer Badura explained the lecture clearly, and they can always have good discussions with lecturer Mora, according to him. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to have experts as teachers. They have a lot of knowledge, and they are passionate about the subject. They give us space to express our opinions and ask questions, but they also guide us very well during discussions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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