Why it's time to rethink the notion of an autism 'spectrum'

Why it's time to rethink the notion of an autism 'spectrum'

The phrases "autism spectrum" or "on the spectrum" have become part of everyday language. They are often used as different ways of referring to someone who is "neurodivergent."

Why it’s time to rethink the notion of an autism ‘spectrum’

The phrases “autism spectrum” or “on the spectrum” have become part of everyday language. They are often used as different ways of referring to someone who is “neurodivergent”. The term was coined in the 1980s by psychiatrist Dr Lorna Wing, whose work transformed how autism was understood in the UK. At the time, her “autism spectrum” concept was groundbreaking. Instead of seeing autism as a rare, narrowly defined condition, she recognised a wide…

Should the Autism Spectrum Be Split Apart?

Should the autism spectrum be split apart? a critical examination of nosological unity and diagnostic heterogeneity.