the word "spectrum"

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Is anyone uncomfortable with the word "spectrum" I mean, I understand it's an easy way to desribe a continuum of symptoms or measurable values, but, for me, "spectrum" is starting to feel like one of those marketing buzz words--such as "paradigm" or "synergy". The word seems to lose meaning when it's abstract yet overused. In my personal opinion, "spectra" seems more appropriate just because autism seems so much more complicated than just a "one end to the other end" spectrum. Yet, "spectra" sounds strange, itself

Would anyone have any other interesting word substitions for "spectrum"?

It works for me.
It's an oversimplification, but just about everything is.
Ya gotta pick your battles.

It makes sense, I dislike the 'severe to mild' interpretation of the spectrum- my cousin is lower functioning then me in terms of communication but she has little to no issues with anxiety, sensory overload or socialising, and yet she is still on the lower end of the spectrum when I, although higher functioning in terms of communication, have huge issues with said anxiety, sensory overload and socialising.

But people seem to love simplicity, they seem to get somewhat annoyed if I try to explain that it ain't as simple as 'can't talk vs can talk'.

I agree with you, but understand the need for it. I guess from my pov, no matter what word they choose to "label" us with, eventually it becomes over-used, and the impact/meaning degrades over time. It's just the way things are, regardless of whether it is right or wrong.

I use the word 'spectrum' but I consider myself in the autism 'tribe'.

no there is nothing wrong with the word spectum.
it is not a buzz word
you are fishing for a thread

I'm all for 'multidimensional spectrum'.

they also call it the "umbrella"

It keeps the social rain out.

"The Spectrum" suits me, barring when people use it to describe subclinical symptoms/behaviours; subclinical is effectively "normal", and "normal" people don't have an ASD (note the "D" part of "ASD").

there is more than one spectra to define AS
in my opinion there are 3, however other diagnostic manuals vary.

They are 1. impairment in social interaction
2. impairment in communication.
3. impairment in theory of mind.

so, it is easy to consider that there is 3 spectra to quantify, not one.

it is a multi spectra condition where each individual has different levels upon the three doifferent spectra.

this is why, we are all so related and can say things that make sens and resonate with each other and also why we can say or do things where others will say..." i dont do that"

it isnt one spectrum , it is, in my opinion, broadly 3 spectra.

and each one on their own dont make a diagnosis of anything, but all three together, make us AS.

all the same and also, very different.

Nice post donkey. That's a simple way of putting it, I always complicate things so I should try explaining it that way to my family and others who assume that I should be able to cope with just about anything because I can talk (and that my cousin is therefore helpless because of her difficulties with speech).

I don't have a problem using the word spectrum however they should come up with a simplified word because spectrum can be confusing to some people.

Probably far more confusing, but more accurate, would be a multi-dimensional matrix, rather than a 2-D spectrum.

I would think a spectrum is 1-D.
Like a number line.

severity is not the same thing as functioning as an autist can be low functioning but have hardly noticible autism or be high functioning and have very noticible and impairing autism,most dont understand theres a difference and wrongly label autists on both ends of the spectrum-LFAuties are automatically assumed to have profound autism,and HFauties or aspies are automatically assumed to have mild autism.
functioning is about what someone can do-basic skills,learning ability,how they cope with looking after themself etc, severity is how strong and impairing autism traits are and also the amount of them.

it is possible cousin is being seen as worse off in autism than self because being non verbal/speech impaired is often assumed to be related to intelligence [even by those who have worked with autistics for years]-being an NVer many do think are ret*d just because of that one impairment and dont judge it on anything else.



original topic.
the autism spectrum is not a very new term,so it isnt hype or a new craze,one word is never going to be enough to describe complex conditions, spectrum at least gives the idea there's different versions.

Sounds kind of corny but how about autistic "rainbow" disorder.
But to come to think of it would it be more appropriate to be working on the word "disorder" instead. Because I do not have a problem with the word "spectrum" but "disorder" I do.