Bishop D V
Br J Disord Commun. 1989 Aug;24(2):107-21. doi: 10.3109/13682828909011951.
The diagnostic criteria for autism have been refined and made more objective since Kanner first described the syndrome, so there is now reasonable consistency in how this diagnosis is applied. However, many children do not meet these criteria, yet show some of the features of autism. Where language development is impaired, such children tend to be classed as cases of developmental dysphasia (or specific language impairment) whereas those who learn to talk at the normal age may be diagnosed as having Asperger's syndrome. It is argued that rather than thinking in terms of rigid diagnostic categories, we should recognise that the core syndrome of autism shades into other milder forms of disorder in which language or non-verbal behaviour may be disproportionately impaired.
自坎纳首次描述自闭症综合征以来，其诊断标准已得到完善并更加客观，因此目前在该诊断的应用方式上存在合理的一致性。然而，许多儿童虽不符合这些标准，但仍表现出一些自闭症特征。在语言发展受损的情况下，这类儿童往往被归类为发育性语言障碍（或特定语言障碍）病例，而那些在正常年龄学会说话的儿童可能被诊断为患有阿斯伯格综合征。有人认为，我们不应局限于严格的诊断类别来思考，而应认识到自闭症的核心综合征会逐渐演变为其他较轻形式的障碍，在这些障碍中，语言或非语言行为可能会受到不成比例的损害。
