Why we need to ditch the "Asperger's" label

The revelations about the collusions of Hans Asperger, after whom Asperger's syndrome is named, with the Nazi regime and in particular their despicable euthanasia programme, have been a shock to many, to say the least.

But there are other good reasons why the Asperger's syndrome label is outdated with regards to autism, and why it should fade from public use.

1. Autism is a continuous spectrum-it does not have discrete labels. "Classic" autism and "Asperger's syndrome" do not really exist; every autistic person is different and language delay occurs separately from autistic spectrum conditions. The autistic spectrum spans infinite possibilities, not a fixed set of labels. The infinity symbol is used for neurodiversity for good reason!

2. Even psychiatric manuals are phasing out the term "Asperger's syndrome". Autism is autism, irrespective of cognitive factors. Asperger's syndrome has been removed from the US and UK psychiatric manual, DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) and will be removed from its more global equivalent, ICD-11 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th edition) when it is released. On those grounds alone it is surprising we still see the term Asperger's syndrome in common public usage.

3. "Syndrome" has negative connotations. The term syndrome first related to curable diseases and mental health problems (e.g. Munchausen syndrome) and not conditions or incurable "disorders". Autistic spectrum conditions are not something that can be cured, nor do autistic people want to be "cured" as such. In terms of deficits and strengths associated with autism, people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and people diagnosed as autistic are not different overall.




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