Terminology

Are there any particular aspects of autism related terminology that bother you?

Here are some of mine:

1.

ND -v- autistic

NT -v- allistic

The above terms seem (from reading here) to have become interchangeable but, to my mind, they shouldn't be.

Autism is under the umbrella of neurodiversity but so is Tourettes (for example).

Here is a wheel of ND but I've seen some with more 'conditions' included:

If ND is used instead of 'autistic' (when it's actually autism in particular that is probably the subject) I find it hard to follow the arguments/discussion.

2.

Another is the autism spectrum.

I don't know how it was meant when it was first termed, but my understanding of it isn't that there are ends of it that are less autistic, and more autistic, ie becoming more extreme, but rather than we (autistic people) can be less and more extreme as we dip in and out of the symptoms/characteristics:

Below is a link to an article that I think explains it well:

https://neuroclastic.com/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you-think/

3.

Also, if other people say 'we are all on the spectrum, all a little bit autistic etc' then I think it's important to bear in mind that a diagnosis is only given if the characteristics of autism that we match to are disabling to us.

How do others see the above and also, are there any other terms that you find difficult/confusing?

Parents
  • Sorry, but I’m going to muddy the waters a bit further: I am actually uncomfortable with the term ‘autism’ (and its derivatives). What bothers me is the etymology: Bleuler coined the term to describe a condition of schizophrenia in which the patient has reached a state of extreme self-absorption. This is in fact the Lutheran definition of sin and he grew up in a context that was profoundly informed by Lutheran and Reformed theology. Do we really want to cling to a term that still hints at self-absorption and (for some people) sinfulness?

Reply
  • Sorry, but I’m going to muddy the waters a bit further: I am actually uncomfortable with the term ‘autism’ (and its derivatives). What bothers me is the etymology: Bleuler coined the term to describe a condition of schizophrenia in which the patient has reached a state of extreme self-absorption. This is in fact the Lutheran definition of sin and he grew up in a context that was profoundly informed by Lutheran and Reformed theology. Do we really want to cling to a term that still hints at self-absorption and (for some people) sinfulness?

Children
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