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The visible-light spectrum is a good analogy of spectrum, from red (long wavelength) light to blue (short wavelength) light. Autism shows a spectrum of characters just as light shows a spectrum of wavelengths. The spectrum goes from non-autistic 'normal' or neurotypical individuals (off the lower end of the spectrum) to highly autistic individuals at the far end of the on-spectrum autism slide. The on-spectrum autism spectrum goes from mild conditions such as mild Asperger Syndrome through 'severe' Asperger Syndrome to autism and 'severe' autism. The following shall describe the sweep of characters along the spectrum. Non-autists (as 'neurotypical' might suggest) have no trouble with social interactions. The social trouble starts on the autism spectrum itself. Asperger Syndrome has trouble in social situations but not nearly as severe as the isolation of 'severe' autism. Asperger Syndrome is considered 'high functioning'. Aspergers can do things by themselves, and despite slight (slight compared with 'severe' autism) difficulties can probably well get by. Too bright lights and too loud noises and too crowded crowds can bother an Asperger to hysterics no doubt but the situation presumably gets worse the more 'severe' you are along the spectrum. I am not sure about the 'genius' interest property of autism, but 'spectrum' implies that while the intense and knowledgeable interest of Aspergers drops off towards the 'severe' autism' end of the spectrum. The hyperlearners may be more restricted to the Asperger world as opposed to the hyperautistic world. I do not want to sound prejudiced against 'autism' as opposed to 'Asperger Syndrome'. The relatively able Asperger is in no way more wonderful than the autist who can do nothing but bash their head against the wall all day and the head-bashing (sorry if that sounds stereotypical) autist is in no way less wonderful than the Astronomy-freak Asperger. Where Asperger may need less help with learning, Autism may need more help. Where Asperger needs less careful care, Autism may need more careful care and support.

If there is any confusion, Autism is like a higher taxon that encompasses all autistic and autistoid conditions or descriptions. It contains the Autism of the last paragraph at the far end of the spectrum and also the 'high function' Asperger Syndrome end of the spectrum and all the other autistoid descriptions if there be any as subtaxa of Autism (the higher taxon).

So, it is a spectrum as there is a spectrum of characters all the way along its continuum-like face. High functions slides to low function. All need support but arguably Asperger needs less that 'severe' autism. Isolation shifts from the few-friended Asperger to the no-friended Asperger to the most isolated autist there is. The intense-interest may be around for all, but perhaps Asperger has the mental equipment to make the best of it as opposed to the 'severe' autist.

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11y ago
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10y ago

Although autistic people can share similar traits, autism effects autistic people in vastly different ways and to different severity's.

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Q: Why autism can be considered as a spectrum?
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