What if the idea of the autism spectrum is completely wrong?

What if the idea of the autism spectrum is completely wrong? For years, we've thought of autism as lying on a spectrum, but emerging evidence suggests that it comes in several distinct types. These three words have become synonymous with autism, yet behind them lies a common misunderstanding. The idea of "the spectrum" suggests that all autistic people share similar experiences and behave in similar ways - only to a greater or lesser extent. The reality couldn't be further from the truth. Some autistic people may not speak at all; others are hyperverbal and extremely fluent.