A split in the spectrum? The ongoing battle to define autism
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects people in many different ways, and its definition has changed a lot over time. Some experts, like Professor Dame Uta Frith, are questioning whether the current broad definition may include people who are not truly autistic, leading to debate among researchers, autistic individuals, and charities.Key Facts
- Autism Spectrum Disorder describes differences in communication and behavior and covers a wide range of experiences.
- The number of autism diagnoses in England has risen from about 700,000 three years ago to around 1.1 million today.
- Professor Dame Uta Frith, an autism researcher, suggests some people with autism diagnoses might be misdiagnosed.
- Some autistic people and charities strongly disagree with Dame Uta’s views, fearing they could harm autistic identities and rights.
- Autism’s definition has evolved since 1911, originally linked to childhood schizophrenia and later expanded to include a spectrum of traits.
- The term Asperger’s Syndrome was used in the past but was replaced by the unified ASD diagnosis in 2013.
- The increase in autism and ADHD diagnoses has led to a government review on neurodivergence and mental health.
- There is ongoing debate about how broad or narrow the autism diagnosis should be to best serve those affected.
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