The most prominent spectrum these days is the gender spectrum, but the absolute absurdity of the idea of a gender spectrum pushed in medical fields should make us question the validity of a medical “spectrum,” particularly with Autism.
I genuinely think that Autism is rampantly over-diagnosed, and has created a paranoia within the population of whether they are “normal” based on very loose parameters.
If gender spectrum is seen as a joke, why do we still place the concept of the Autism spectrum on relatively a higher pedestal?
No, Asperger's was literally folding into ASD. ASD was given the same diagnosistic criteria as any other mental illness, with specific requirements and maladaptive traits. Many of those who barely met the prior very weak needs for Asperger's no longer met the minimum for Autism (which is why they didn't just have autism before) and were stripped of it.
The only semi-unique thing it has is having levels 1-3 for it, which is only semi unique because of the naming, and that's why it kept the legacy name of "spectrum." But that is important because the difference between a functional human who is still in need of supervision, and a massive autist who can barely go 2 minutes without killing themselves, is large despite having the same root.
Because that's the important key. You now have to be level 1, 2, or 3 to have autism. Anyone who can't tell you their level and just relies on "spectrum" is lying.