Autism Spectrum-Related Terms Preferred by Polish-Speaking Persons on the Autism Spectrum and Participants Without a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Conditions

Abstract

Background:

There is a growing recognition of the need to use community-preferred language to talk about neurodevelopmental conditions. Moreover, the neurodiversity perspective calls for an updated, nonmedicalized terminology reflecting the current approach to neurodevelopment. This study investigated the preferences regarding autism spectrum-related terms in a sample of Polish-speaking participants.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey involving 3309 respondents: persons with a formal diagnosis of the autism spectrum, self-diagnosed individuals, family members of persons on the autism spectrum, professionals working with persons on the autism spectrum, and other participants. We asked about the terms they found the most adequate to talk about the autism spectrum and persons on the autism spectrum.

Results:

We found that the term “autism spectrum” was most frequently liked in all groups. Having to choose one term, persons with a formal diagnosis of the autism spectrum chose “autism spectrum” (51.7%), whereas “autism spectrum disorder” was most frequently selected by participants in the other groups. Regarding descriptions of people, persons with a formal diagnosis of the autism spectrum most frequently indicated that they disliked the description “… is a person with autism spectrum disorder” and favored the less medicalized expression “… is on the autism spectrum.” A preference for the person-first language over the identity-first language was observed in other groups.

Conclusions:

The term “(person on the) autism spectrum” seems the most adequate as it is consistent with the choices of persons on the autism spectrum and the current neurodiversity perspective. Further studies involving non-English-speaking participants are necessary to ensure that the terminology preferred by the local autistic community is respected.