Article Summary: Autism awareness is at an all-time high. While that’s a good thing, it’s also led to some confusion. One question we often hear: “Is everyone on the autistic spectrum?” The short is no, not everyone is on the spectrum—even though it is a spectrum. Continue reading to learn more—including why ASD rates seem to be higher than in the past.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be the most misunderstood disorder in our society today. Although it’s a common affliction—experts say it impacts somewhere between 1 in 31 and 1 in 59—many fear it as if it’s a dangerous, contagious disease.
“We didn’t have autism back in my day!” some people cry, and that’s led to a wave of conspiracy theories:
- “Vaccines cause autism!”
- “Tylenol causes autism!”
- “Bad parenting causes autism!”
None of these are true, of course.
But as education around ASD has spread, it’s led to an important question: Is everyone on the autistic spectrum?
No, not at all—but the answer isn’t quite that simple. Continue reading to learn more about the multiple levels of autism, the current rates of autism, and more.
Table of Contents
Why Do Rates of Autism Seem Higher?
Different Levels of Autism
Is Everyone On the Autistic Spectrum?
Find Support for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Why Do Rates of Autism Seem Higher?
Contrary to popular belief, the rates of autism spectrum disorder are not higher than they were 10, 100, or even 1,000 years ago. Instead, we’ve seen:
- An increase in Autism Spectrum Disorder awareness. Remember: Autism was first described in 1943—less than 100 years ago—and it only became an official medical diagnosis in 1980.
- An increase in testing. As awareness has spread, so has testing. The simple increase in testing has led to an increase in diagnoses—but not an increase in the disorder throughout society.
- A broadening of “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” In 2013, the DSM-5 combined autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) under the umbrella term of Autism Spectrum Disorder. This has led to an increase of ASD diagnoses.
Between an increase in testing and a broader definition, of course it seems like autism is more common now than ever—but it’s simply a result of the disorder being identified at a higher rate.
Related Reading: Therapy for Parents of Special Needs Children
Different Levels of Autism
Before we discuss whether everyone is on the spectrum, we must first understand what the spectrum is. The different levels of autism, according to AutismSpeaks, are:
Level 1: Requires Support
Some individuals with Level 1 don’t even realize they meet the criteria for ASD until they get tested. Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty initiating social interactions
- Appears to have decreased interest in social interactions
- Inflexible behaviors that interfere with functioning
- Difficulty switching between activities
- Organizational and planning problems
Level 2: Requires Substantial Support
Common symptoms include:
- Issues with verbal and nonverbal communication
- Limited initiation of social interactions
- Difficulty coping with change
- Inflexible behavior
- Restrictive or repetitive behaviors
- Distress or difficulty changing focus or activities
Level 3: Requires Very Substantial Support
In Level 3, many people require extra care and attention, and they could be at risk of unintentionally hurting themselves through repetitive or dangerous behaviors. Common symptoms include:
- Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication
- Limited social interactions
- Extreme difficulty coping with change
- Repetitive behaviors that interfere with functioning
- Extreme distress when changing focus or activities
Related Reading: Therapy for Adults With Autism
Is Everyone On the Autistic Spectrum?
No, everyone is not on the autistic spectrum. However, we all may occasionally experience symptoms of various levels—but these could be symptoms of other issues or simple human behavior.
For example, you might:
- Have difficulty initiating social interactions after a difficult day at work.
- Have issues remaining organized or planning activities, which could simply be a sign of attention deficit disorder.
- Have problems switching between activities when you really love your hobbies.
Alone, none of these symptoms immediately mean you have ASD.
Find Support for Autism Spectrum Disorder
If you’re struggling with ASD, contact us.
Our compassionate therapists can help you find the support and resources you need.