spectrum disorder

American  

noun

Psychiatry.

1. any of a group of disorders each having symptoms that occur on a continuum and certain features that are shared along its spectrum but that manifest in markedly different forms and degrees.

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Etymology

Origin of spectrum disorder

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

The court heard the teenager was seen by a psychiatrist who diagnosed him as having autism spectrum disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Multiple researchers have argued that the rise in autism spectrum disorder diagnoses is better explained by an expanding diagnostic definition of the disorder, along with better monitoring and diagnosis for more children.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025

Autism spectrum disorder is a broad neurodevelopmental diagnosis that encompasses challenges related to social skills, communication and behavior.

From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025

But they are both diagnosed under the same broad umbrella of autism spectrum disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

This expanded criteria makes discussions about curing or preventing autism incredibly fraught, because the label autism spectrum disorder is now such a big tent.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2025