Has autism spectrum become too wide? Pioneering psychologist says definition needs overhaul
One of the world’s leading experts on autism has questioned the current definition used by clinicians, suggesting it is so broad that it risks “confusion and misdiagnosis”. Autism is currently diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – a single condition that includes a huge range of people, from those needing round-the-clock care to those who live independently. Prof Dame Uta Frith, whose…
Pioneering psychologist Prof Dame Uta Frith has questioned the current definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), suggesting that it has become too broad, risking confusion and misdiagnosis. In a recent article published in Psychological Medicine, Frith argues that the definition of autism, which has evolved since its identification in the 1940s, now includes a wide range of people with varying levels of severity and traits.
She contends that the dramatic increase in the number of autism diagnoses, from about four in 10,000 children in the UK in the 1960s to around one in 57 schoolchildren today, is due to several factors such as greater awareness, less stigma, broader diagnostic criteria, and the influence of social media. Frith's research has contributed to the development of key theories about autism, including the theory of mind deficit and weak central coherence.
She argues that not all autism diagnoses look the same, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding and diagnosing the condition.
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