Beyond “autism spectrum disorder”: toward a redefinition of the conceptual foundations of autism

This article critically examines the conceptual and clinical frameworks underpinning the understanding of autism, challenging the dominance of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) label. Since the introduction of ASD in the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), research has largely emphasized deficit-focused perspectives, aligning autism with intellectual and cognitive disability. Historical accounts by researchers like Sukhareva, Kanner, Asperger, and Frankl, however, depict autism as a complex neurotype characterized by unique strengths, intelligence, creativity, and personality traits. By juxtaposing these foundational insights with the modern pathological framing introduced by Wing and Gould, the article highlights the limitations of ASD in capturing the real nature and definition of autism. A review of autism research trends reveals a persistent bias toward a homogeneous, deficit-oriented model, often excluding perspectives that view autism as a form of cognitive diversity. The article also critiques media representations, which oscillate between stereotypical portrayals and reductive “idiot” and savant depictions, failing to “authentically” represent autism. Advocating for a paradigm shift, it calls for an interdisciplinary approach rooted in biology (research about species and genera), cognitive and evolutionary psychology, ecology, and anthropology (research about alterity and otherness) and challenges the entrenched deficit model. This shift would promote a better understanding of autism, acknowledging it as a neurodevelopmental condition (characterized by distinct cognitive patterns) rather than a disorder (defined by deficits and/or impairments).