Preferences for Identity-First and Person-First Language: A Systematic Review of Research With Autistic Adults/Adults With Autism
J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Dec 13. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-07174-3. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recommendations concerning the language used to describe autism center primarily around preferences for person-first language (PFL; e.g., person with autism) or identity-first language (IFL; e.g.., autistic person). Empirical research on this topic has recently proliferated, yet there is no clear consensus. In this study, we systematically reviewed prior research on the autistic community’s language preferences.
METHODS: Our search generated 2483 articles. Nineteen studies (N = 6350) quantitatively assessed autistic people’s perspectives of autism language terms. We extracted data regarding most preferred terms and terms deemed acceptable for use.
RESULTS: All studies were conducted online. Fourteen assessed preferred terminology; 10 found that more participants preferred IFL than PFL, though there was also considerable PFL endorsement (4-39% of participants) in these studies. Two studies that found a preference for PFL over IFL were conducted in Dutch. When able to choose “no preference/either” (6 studies), 4-37% of participants chose this option. Seven studies assessed acceptable terms; IFL terms were endorsed as acceptable by ~ 40-97% of participants, PFL terms by 5-53%, and “on the spectrum” by 8-45%. Across studies, participants were not representative of the entire autism spectrum (e.g., likely few participants with intellectual disability).
CONCLUSION: Study results vary widely and suggest no consensus as to whether individuals with autism prefer IFL or PFL, neither across nor necessarily even within cultures and languages. We present several considerations for members of the autism community (e.g., researchers, clinicians, etc.) regarding use of PFL and IFL, with the ultimate goal of ensuring individual preferences are respected.
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