| Overview | 1. Introduction | 2. Diagnostic fog | 3. Sensory processing | 4. Emergent patterns | 5. Research & therapy | 6. New model | 7. Conclusion |
Autism is a term that has remained simultaneously familiar and surprisingly vague. It suggests clarity, specificity, a known clinical picture – and yet in reality, it is a catchment basin for diverse phenomena connected more by external observation than by internal logic. Those who delve deeper into the subject quickly encounter a disconcerting juxtaposition: On one hand, clear diagnoses, support measures, public discourse. On the other hand, a bewildering variety of manifestations, contradictions, and individual differences that are difficult to reconcile.
In current medical and psychological practice, autism is defined primarily through symptoms: difficulties in social interactions, language peculiarities, repetitive behaviors, special interests, sensory sensitivities. But what if many of these symptoms aren’t primary – but rather reactions to a much more fundamental cause?
This paper proposes a radical shift in perspective: Away from superficial description, toward a systemically understood model that places sensory processing as the central cause at its core. Sensory sensitivity – in all its variants – is not a minor aspect, but possibly the key to understanding the phenomenon. Behavior described as “autistic” could then reveal itself as an emergent strategy for dealing with sensory reality.
At the same time, we would need to accept that “autism” is not a uniform syndrome, but rather an observational umbrella for different forms of adaptation to internal and external conditions. Such a perspective would not only deepen scientific understanding but also lead to more individualized, respectful, and effective forms of support.
| Back to overview | Next to Chapter 2: The diagnostic fog |