Rethinking ADHD and ASD: From Pathology to Human Trajectories

This article proposes a humanistic reframing of the clinical terms Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which have historically been shaped by deficit-oriented language. Drawing on contemporary neuroscience and the neurodiversity paradigm, the text argues that attentional, sensory, and perceptual differences are natural expressions of human cognition rather than pathological deviations. The article introduces the symbolic reframing of ADHD as “Diverse Human Attention Trajectories” and ASD as “Authentic Spectrum of Diversity,” emphasizing the ethical importance of language in shaping dignity, identity, and social belonging. It contends that naming is a form of care, influencing access to support, family acceptance, and self-esteem. This humanistic perspective contributes to a broader anthropological understanding of cognitive diversity.