Survey 2026: How is the term „perceptual disorder“ perceived today?

In the spring of 2026, APW conducted a survey on the term „perception disorder.“ The aim was to gain a better understanding of how the term is perceived by professionals, relatives, and other interested parties. The results clearly show that while the term continues to be used, it is increasingly viewed critically.

Who participated?

The majority of participants were professionals such as therapists, teachers, or doctors. Parents and caregivers were also represented.

How is the term perceived?

A large portion of respondents perceive the term as having rather negative connotations. At the same time, many also categorize it as factually correct. However, some see it as stigmatizing or no longer contemporary. It becomes particularly clear that the term elicits different reactions:

• Associations with „being disturbed“ or „not being right“
• Connection to technical or defective systems
• Perception as derogatory or exclusionary
• At the same time, neutral or technically oriented perspectives

Desire for change

A portion of respondents advocate for adapting or replacing the term. Others wish to stick with it or see no clear need for action. Opinions are clearly divided here.

Possible alternatives

In the survey, various alternative terms were evaluated. Particularly frequently mentioned or found to be suitable were:

• Perceptual impairment
• Perceptual difficulty
• Perceptual peculiarity

Suggestions like „neurodivergent perception“ or „differently-abled perception“ also show that there is a need for more nuanced and less judgmental terms.

Download results as PDF

Those who wish to delve deeper into the results can download the full analysis here: