In schools, labels are the only way for kids to get funding in order to receive the help they need. No, they don't define the person, but fact is, they do. Take a wander through this site (or Youtube, or, or) and look at the use of labels like 'retard'. They are often used by uninformed people to describe who/what a person is.

Hyperlexia is a condition that shows itself in 5-10% of children who are on the autism spectrum. Whether it fits ths paradigms of either the DSM (which refers to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) or the ICD (which refers to the International Classification of Diseases) does not make the condition disappear.

I agree people shouldn't get hung up on labels, but without them kids in need remain in need.