Autism expert warns spectrum may have become ‘too broad’
- Professor Dame Uta Frith, a leading autism expert, has warned that the autism spectrum may have become “too broad,” risking a misunderstanding of patients’ needs and misdirecting care.
- She noted that the definition of autism has widened significantly since the 1940s, now encompassing individuals with milder traits and varying intelligence levels, moving from a precise clinical term to a “vague, culturally amplified identity category.”
- Dame Uta suggested that social media and the concept of “neurodiversity” have contributed to simplified or misleading ideas about autism, and that factors like self-reporting and “masking” have lowered diagnostic thresholds.
- She advocates for “greater precision” in diagnosis and for the spectrum to be “split up” to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate, tailored support for different needs, such as addressing sensory issues or anxiety.
- In response, Mel Merritt of the National Autistic Society emphasised that autism is a unique spectrum for each individual, arguing that terms like “milder traits” can be unhelpful and that the focus should be on providing better access to assessments and support for all autistic people.
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