Wojciech Kreft
January 22, 2026
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ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a term used increasingly often to describe the autism spectrum. Although autism is still sometimes associated with a single, fixed clinical picture, contemporary science understands it as a broad and highly diverse phenomenon. In this article, we explain what autism is and why we now speak of a “spectrum” rather than one uniform diagnostic entity.
ASD: definition and key facts
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder associated with differences in the development and functioning of the brain and nervous system. It is important to emphasize that autism is not an infectious illness and cannot be “caught” or cured in the traditional medical sense. Instead, it is a lifelong neurodevelopmental characteristic present from early childhood. ASD is associated, among other things, with differences in communication and social interaction, as well as in how a person processes sensory input from the environment.
Why do we use the term “spectrum”?
The term “spectrum” has been adopted in official medical classifications such as DSM-5 and ICD-11 to create a more consistent framework and better reflect the diversity of autistic people. This approach replaced earlier, often ambiguous subcategories such as childhood autism, atypical autism, or Asperger’s syndrome. The change highlights that autism is complex and varied—each autistic person is different and may show different levels of diagnostic features and support needs. Some people can function independently, while others require a high level of day-to-day support.
Key diagnostic criteria: the autism dyad
Current diagnostic criteria for ASD focus on two main areas (the so-called “dyad”):
1) Differences in communication and social interaction
These may include, for example, difficulties or a different conversational style (e.g., taking turns in dialogue), interpreting nonverbal cues (facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice), and understanding implied meanings in communication (such as irony or metaphors). Autistic people often find it challenging to form friendships and to navigate unwritten social rules.
2) Restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests
These may include a strong need for predictability and routine, difficulty accepting changes, repetitive behaviors (e.g., self-regulatory movements), and intense, often highly specific interests. Such behaviors can serve a self-regulation function—helping a person cope with stress, sensory overload, or tension.
In practice, an important aspect of functioning for many autistic people is also differences in sensory processing. These can involve hypersensitivity (e.g., strong discomfort with certain sounds, smells, or textures) or hyposensitivity (e.g., a higher threshold for pain, temperature, or touch).
Autism in women and masking
Statistics indicate that autism is diagnosed about four times more often in boys than in girls. However, contemporary research suggests that this disparity is partly related to masking (social camouflaging). Girls and women on the spectrum may learn earlier to imitate neurotypical behaviors, which helps them “blend in,” but can also lead to psychological exhaustion and delayed diagnosis.
Neurodiversity: a new perspective
Today, there is a growing shift away from a purely medical model focused on “fixing” deficits and toward the neurodiversity paradigm. This perspective views autism as an alternative, natural pathway of human brain development. Alongside challenges, autistic people may also have distinctive strengths, such as excellent memory, logical thinking, creative problem-solving, or strong honesty and loyalty. At the same time, it is important to remember that each autistic person’s profile is individual and can vary widely.
Modern forms of support
A modern approach to supporting autistic people emphasizes tailoring methods to an individual’s needs and functional profile. Alongside traditional therapy and educational interventions, immersive technologies—including virtual reality (VR)—are increasingly being used.
Well-designed VR environments can support the development of social skills, rehearsal of responses in safe and controlled conditions, and work on emotion regulation and sensory processing. VR does not replace relationships or specialist-led therapy, but it can be a valuable complementary tool in therapeutic and educational settings—especially when working with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. One example is the Theraply VR app, designed for autistic children aged 6–12.
Summary
Understanding what the autism spectrum is helps create a world that is more inclusive and open to diversity. Early diagnosis and appropriately tailored support are not intended to “cure” autism, but to help an autistic person develop their potential and improve comfort and quality of life.
FAQ: the most frequently asked questions about autism
What is autism?
Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with differences in communication, social interaction, and sensory processing. It is present from early childhood and involves a wide range of functional profiles—hence the term “spectrum.”
Is autism a disease?
No. Autism is not an infectious disease and it is not something that can be cured. It is a lifelong neurodevelopmental characteristic described in medical classifications (ICD-11, DSM-5-TR) as a neurodevelopmental disorder. Support focuses on improving quality of life and adapting environments to individual needs, rather than “treating” autism.
Does every person with ASD function in the same way?
No. The autism spectrum includes highly diverse functional profiles. People with ASD may differ in communication style, sensory sensitivity, support needs, and strengths. There is no single “typical” presentation of autism—each autistic person is different.
