AIBU to not like the term 'on the spectrum' to mean autistic/has autism

[UndertheCedartree]

It really bugs me! Lots of conditions have spectrums so you could be talking about anything. It's so imprecise.

Also, I think it perpetuates the myth that there is one spectrum and everyone is on it somewhere so everyone is autistic to a greater or lesser extent.

But surely everyone is on the 'neurological spectrum'? So calling someone who is autistic 'on the spectrum' specifically to refer to their autism makes no sense?

Autism is called ASD or ASC. When you shift from physical illness the specific definitions fall apart, tbh.

Was this a screening test perhaps not an actual assessment?

Nowadays ASD is the catch all term. So you have ASD/are autistic = the same thing.

Well it's common parlance to say 'is diabetic ' 'is asthmatic ' etc

It means the person has the condition

Not that that's literally all their identity or something

But the professionally offended will be along to correct me no doubt

Also, I think it perpetuates the myth that there is one spectrum and everyone is on it somewhere so everyone is autistic to a greater or lesser extent

Surely it's saying exactly the opposite to that?

But there’s no such thing as the “neurological spectrum”, what on earth do you mean?

“On the spectrum” is a universally accepted euphemism for autism. That’s just a fact.

Therefore, neurotypical people cannot be “a little bit on the spectrum”, but they can possess the odd autistic trait. That’s the difference. It doesn’t make them autistic.

It’s like saying “We’re all a little bit pregnant, aren’t we?” because everyone experiences nausea and backache from time to time.

I always say my kids are autistic and yes they are polar opposite ends of this mystical spectrum 🤷‍♀️.

I don't like on the spectrum either, I do think people use it as a euphemism because autism is too difficult for them to say.

I'm going to against most posters with this so I'll turn notifications off on my phone for a while. I do describe my son as having autism. I won't say autistic as I want people to know he is so much more than his diagnosis. He is severe (again I know that isn't a pc term but I also deteste having no language to adequately describe his needs because other people feel their diagnosis is is in someway invalidated). I would cure/ remove his autism from him in a heartbeat. It isn't even a decision. Just before the usual replies, no he does not have a learning disability and he is disabled by the profound way his autism impacts him (all day, every day, not fluctuating). I know autism was compared to cancer earlier in the thread and the poster shot down but I also see the comparison and see it as worse (my dad died of cancer so yes I've seen first hand what it does and how horrible it is). Autism has taken his life, he'll never have children, get married, have a career, go on a proper night out, make decisions for himself etc. My dad got to live his life fully even though he died much earlier than he should, at least he truly lived his life. So yes, for some autism is something that they see as needing a cure or removing.

The spectrum and the theory of fluctuating needs irritates me too as it just isn't applicable to him.

It was definitely the actual assessment. I'm starting to think I made it all up.

I think the ados has a score.

I prefer to be referred to as autistic… it’s part of me like being tall and intelligent. I am a tall, moderately good looking, intelligent, autistic woman.

"On the spectrum" is a confusing term for our son. He has two spectrum disorders - autism, and auditory neuropathy. Which spectrum would we be describing?

He is autistic and he is deaf.

It particularly annoys me when people pick people like Einstein/Darwin/Newton whoever and decide that they were on the spectrum when its completely impossible to say that.

I'm so glad someone said that, scrolling through and it bugs me so much.

Thank you! I think I got confused with this and then just made the rest up. ADOS does indeed have scores with various subcategories within it.

I don't understand why so many people have voted YABU- there doesnt seem any justifcation on the thread other than a couple of people saying 'it doesnt bother me'. Loads of explanations of why it doesn't work as a term.

I've always known "on the spectrum" as saying someone is ND but can't say what it is or when someone thinks a person could be autistic but isn't sure due to being undiagnosed, they say the person is (likely to be) on the spectrum. Meaning if assessed, they'd be found to either be autistic or another form of ND.

It's just that autism has become the more widely known form of neurodiversity or neurodivergence so people often use autism as shorthand.

When Ds1 was diagnosed I was told very strongly that it must be person before disability or need ie, "x has autism", it isn't WHO he is. This was also emphasised in my training for early years work. I have always been so careful with language yet recently at a parent training for DS2 diagnosis I was told the opposite ie X is autistic. I raised my hand and said I had always been told otherwise and the reply was "well its changed now. We don't separate the person from the disability etc". It seems ludicrous to me that "it" can change, it might change again at any moment! So I've given up trying to not offend, I work with some children with autism and ask the parents what they prefer.

The post comparing autism to cancer is really offensive and should probably be deleted.

Two of my dc are autistic - it is not a disease, they just experience the world in a different way to people who are considered 'neurotypical'.

Reading this has made me realise that there isn't an equivalent choice for those of us with ADHD (unless someone can tell me otherwise) - you just have to say 'I have ADHD'. I'd like to be able to describe it as part of who I am in the same manner as saying someone is autistic, rather than 'has autism'.

I don’t think it is ‘impossible’ as their lives are well documented and they left behind diaries and such.

We'll, it's just saying 'the spectrum' so people take it as universal.

The use of “on the spectrum “ doesn’t bother me at all, what does is the people who say/ think they have some autistic traits. That’s like saying I’m autistic on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You either meet the diagnostic criteria or you do not.

No i think its done wonders for people to fibally be recognised as ASD. It used to be very narrow and specific and many children and adults webt undiagnosed because they didnt tick the autistic box.

Now so many more traits are accpeted and recognised. Especially for girls. My son is ASD does not line things up, likes the cinema and fireworks, clothes and tags dont bother him.

Without this "spectrum" he wouldnt tick the sensory box

If you look at my post I was quoting someone else, so you'll have to ask them. But I believe they are refering to how you could plot people on a spectrum by their neurological traits.

'On the spectrum' may be a euphemism many use but I think this thread shows it's certainly not universally accepted. Many of us feel a bit offended that our autism is so distasteful it needs an euphemism!

I agree - there is good primary source evidence for all three of those in particular. Why does it bug you out of interest? Do you dislike the idea that autistic people have significantly contributed to progress?

My favourite anecdote about Darwin was that he had a mirror in his study angled so he could see who was at the door and avoid them if he chose to. We know how strange the NT of mumsnet find that sort of thing.

What annoys me is "my son is ASD," just for the grammar. No, he isn't a disorder.