I think we are mostly agreeing, but let me be specific here. The NIH starts by defining autism: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developme

I think we are mostly agreeing, but let me be specific here. The NIH starts by defining autism: "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder." Defining autism as a DISORDER rather than common symptoms caused by a myriad of different disorders is where the issue is. I know we're doing a semantics game here, and doctors may full well understand this, but the public does not. Then further: "Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience." Again, the spectrum is being defined as a variation of symptoms (with an implied common disorder), not a variation of disorders with similar symptoms. Am I misunderstanding the word disorder here?