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

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition that manifests differently in nearly every person who has it.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

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