"It Defines Who I Am" or "It's Something I Have": What Language Do [Autistic] Australian Adults [on the Autism Spectrum] Prefer?

Australian researchers asked 198 adults with autism which words they prefer when describing autism. The most liked terms were 'autistic', 'person on the autism spectrum', and 'autistic person'. People's choices reflected whether they see autism as central to who they are or just one part of themselves. Many rejected medical or negative language. The study shows it's important to respect what each person prefers to be called.

This 2023 Australian study examined language preferences among 198 adults with autism diagnoses regarding autism-related terminology. Participants rated and ranked various terms for preference and offensiveness, with 'Autistic', 'Person on the Autism Spectrum', and 'Autistic Person' emerging as most preferred overall. When ranked by preference means, 'person on the autism spectrum' was most favoured. Qualitative analysis revealed six themes: autism as core identity, autism as part of identity, spectrum reflecting diversity, rejection of stigmatising language, rejection of medicalised language, and pragmatic considerations.

The research emphasises the importance of respectful dialogue about individual language preferences when discussing autism.

Healthcare professionals and service providers should engage in respectful dialogue about language preferences with autistic individuals. Default terminology should avoid stigmatising or overly medicalised language. Individual preferences should be prioritised over prescribed language guidelines.

Sample limited to Australian adults with autism diagnoses. Study type not specified in available information. No details provided about participant demographics, recruitment methods, or statistical analysis approaches. Generalisability to other populations unclear.

There has been a recent shift from person-first to identity-first language to describe autism. In this study, Australian adults who reported having a diagnosis of autism (N = 198) rated and ranked autism-terms for preference and offensiveness, and explained their choice in free-text. 'Autistic', 'Person on the Autism Spectrum', and 'Autistic Person' were rated most preferred and least offensive overall. Ranked-means showed 'person on the autism spectrum' was the most preferred term overall. Six qualitative themes reflected (1) autism as core to, or (2) part of one's identity, (3) 'spectrum' reflecting diversity, (4) the rejection of stigmatising and (5) medicalised language, and (6) pragmatics.

These findings highlight the importance of inclusive dialogue regarding individual language preference.