" 

 :: Indeed, quite confusing. The hat note says that the article is about classic autism, id est, the more severe form (as you have mentioned), however, the article often speaks as if the topic is autism in general, id est, the whole autistic spectrum. I'm guessing people have been confused by the article title being simply ""Autism"" thinking what is meant is the whole spectrum. Hat notes, like many ads on websites, are frequently not read unless some abnormality in the article (against their expectations) prompts them to read them. Many people with AS or HFA will say they have autism, but they do not mean the more severe classic autism. Perhaps instead of redirecting ""Classic autism"" to this article named ""Autism,"" we should instead have classic autism under the title of ""Classic autism"" and redirect ""Autism"" to ""Autism spectrum."" It may become more confusing since there is much talk that DSM-5 will reclassify Asperger Syndrome as just autism. —   "