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Re:Knocking out one key gene leads to autistic traits by ghostpepper on Tuesday September 17, 2024 @04:32PM (#41572407)
This site helped illuminate the use of the word 'spectrum' for me:" https://neuroclastic.com/its-a-spectrum-doesnt-mean-what-you...

> But when people talk about autism they talk as if it were a gradient, not a spectrum at all.

Re:Knocking out one key gene leads to autistic traits by __MatrixMan__ on Tuesday September 17, 2024 @04:53PM (#41572614)
That helps a little, but it seems like maybe "spectrum" was a poor choice at the outset.

> All autistic people are affected in one way or another in most or all of these boxes – a rainbow of traits.

All visible light is comprised of at least one of its spectra. That, to me, is the fundamental thing about spectrums. If being on it means that you embody most or all spectra, you're really in a different mode of thinking altogether.

Better would be to just admit that it's a bit of a catch-all for traits that tend to be found together.