Moving from Disorder to Difference: A Systematic Review of Recent Language Use in Autism Research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Disability Studies
• Linguistics

Background:

• The neurodiversity paradigm reframes autism as a neurological difference, challenging the traditional medical model of disorder.
• Recent recommendations advocate for alternative neuro-affirming language (ANL) over traditional medical language (TML) to foster acceptance and reduce prejudice.
• Analyzing language trends in autism literature provides insight into the impact of these recommendations and evolving disability discourse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the prevalence and characteristics of traditional medical language (TML) and alternative neuro-affirming language (ANL) in recent autism research.
• To identify factors associated with the use of ANL versus TML in published autism studies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of autism research articles published in 2021 (n=2322) was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
• Articles and journals were coded for various characteristics, including topic, participants, self-report use, geographic region, and language guidelines.
• Terminology use (TML vs. ANL) was extracted using QDA Miner software.

Main Results:

• Traditional medical language (TML) remains prevalent, but a subset of articles primarily uses alternative neuro-affirming language (ANL).
• ANL use positively correlates with publication date and is more frequent in articles on autistic traits, DEI, lifespan, and those including autistic adults or self-reports.
• ANL is also more common in journals from Australasia or Europe or those with identify-first language (IFL) guidelines.
• Conversely, TML is more prevalent in articles on biology/causes or treatment, involving parents or younger autistic individuals, and published in medical journals.

Conclusions:

• While TML dominates autism research, a discernible shift towards ANL is emerging in recent literature.
• Journal and article language recommendations may facilitate the increased use of neuro-affirming language.
• The adoption of ANL is influenced by research topics prioritized by the autistic community, inclusion of autistic adults, and cultural factors.
• Researchers and practitioners should be mindful of how their language choices impact societal perceptions of autistic individuals.