In a recent article published in The Atlantic, Rose Eveleth raises important questions about the utility of referring to autism as a “spectrum.” She details the questions that many relatives of individuals with autism are often asked: “Is she high functioning?”, “Where on the spectrum is he?” Eveleth considers the fact that currently, there are no scientifically based “markers” along the spectrum that can be useful in this discussion, and referring to “functioning level” can provide further challenges. The diagnosis of autism has evolved a great deal over time, and continues to do so as genetic, behavioral, and neurological research progresses. Eveleth suggests that, as research evolves, we may have more meaningful markers of what autism looks like in different people, across the lifespan. This article raises significant questions about the ways in which autism is currently defined and the need for further specificity. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
