Autism Terms & Language

Terms you will see in reports

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — the medical name used in the DSM-5, the guide health care providers use to diagnose developmental disorders. NIMH describes it as a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact, communicate, learn and behave.
• Spectrum — used because autistic people have a wide range of characteristics, needs, strengths and challenges. It is a range, not a line from “mild” to “severe.” Understanding the spectrum.
• Developmental disability — CDC’s term for a group of conditions, including autism, that begin in childhood and affect learning, language, behavior or movement.
• DSM-5 — the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (2013). NICHD explains that it combined the earlier subtypes into one diagnosis, ASD.
• Asperger syndrome, PDD-NOS — older DSM-IV terms. NICHD notes that providers no longer use them, though the AAP observes that many people still self-identify as having Asperger’s.

Terms about screening and evaluation

• Developmental monitoring — watching how a child grows and changes over time.
• Screening — a short, formal questionnaire or checklist that shows whether a closer look is needed. A screening result is not a diagnosis.
• Diagnostic evaluation — a detailed assessment by a team experienced in diagnosing autism. CDC notes there is no medical test, such as a blood test, for autism.
• Early intervention — developmental services for young children; in the U.S., state programs serve children from birth to age 3. Getting an evaluation.

Terms about communication and behavior

• Echolalia — repeating words, phrases or questions, right away or later. NIDCD describes it as a common pattern in autistic children’s speech.
• Scripting — using remembered lines, for example from a show, to communicate. ASAN lists it as one of the ways autistic people communicate.
• Stimming — repeated movements or sounds such as rocking, humming or hand flapping. ASAN explains that stimming helps with sensory regulation.
• AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) — gestures, sign language, picture systems and electronic devices or apps that speak. The AAP notes AAC does not stop a child from learning to talk.
• Nonspeaking / nonverbal — describes a person who does not communicate mainly through spoken words. CDC uses “nonverbal”; many autistic advocates prefer “nonspeaking” because it does not imply the person has nothing to say.
• Sensory differences — being more or less sensitive than others to light, sound, clothing, taste or temperature (NIMH).

“Autistic person” or “person with autism”?

Both forms are used, and families will hear both. Person-first language (“child with autism”) puts the word person first; CDC’s public materials use it. Identity-first language (“autistic child”) treats autism as part of who the person is. The Autistic Self Advocacy Network explains that many autistic self-advocates prefer identity-first language because they understand autism as an inherent part of identity that cannot be separated from the person — in the same way one says “Jewish” or “athletic” — and because “person with autism” can suggest the person would be better off without it. ASAN also acknowledges that many parents and professionals prefer person-first language to emphasize the person’s humanity, and urges respectful discussion between the two views.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that preferences in the autistic community vary and that HealthyChildren.org is moving to identity-first language to align with neuro-affirming practice. Autism Family uses both forms, and the best guide is always the individual: ask the autistic person — or their family — which they prefer.

Words to avoid

ASAN notes that both self-advocates and many parents object to phrases such as “suffers from autism.” Describing a person by their diagnosis alone (“the autistic”) is also widely seen as disrespectful. Autism is not a disease, and there is no “cure”; talking about support, access and acceptance reflects how public health agencies and autistic-led organizations describe it today.