Term 'high-functioning autism' should be scrapped

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https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/large ... ng-autism/

It has never been an official diagnosis.

I don't have a problem with it myself since it does convey *some* information.
Personally, I think there is a need for some distinction.

It has caused confusion for me personally in the past, however, because some people seem to think I am referring to "savant" status.
As a result, I tend to use "mildly autistic" instead, as it was described to me when I was first dxed. <shrug>

Which is as it should be. It seems to me as being a way to compare some people on the spectrum to other people on the spectrum. If you are not low functioning you must therefore be high functioning.

This overlooks the fact that those who are deemed 'high functioning' can have definite difficulties compared to NT people.

It does not "overlook" anything.

If you had no difficulties compared to NTs then you would be classified as a normal NT.

Being labeled "HFA" acknowledges both things- that you're not the same as NTs, but that you blend into society better than HFA's. it aint rocket science. It is what the label is. High functioning compared to other autistics, but still autistic.

And though it was never an official dx, nowadays it IS (for practical purposes) an official diagnosis, because the autism spectrum is now split into three levels. Those needing the "least support" are "level one". What IS "Level 1 autism", but the official synonym for "high functioning autism"?

In the UK 95% of people think High Functioning Autism means you are are a genius and went to Oxbridge at 12.

I never describe myself as such. I might though if someone knew I was autistic and was using it to undermine me.

But then I'd also raise one eyebrow, lift my accent a couple of classes, and try to convince them I was a genius, or

at least a couple of places above them in some way.


The irony is that the only was to get a diagnoses that classes you as high functioning is to get an assessment.

The only way to get an assessment is to go to your GP and persuade them that you are and have always

functioned badly in most areas of your life.

Last edited by fluffysaurus on 03 Jul 2019, 9:00 am, edited 1 time in total.

Posh Pig ^

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. Like a lot to do with ASD it's a contentious issue.

How about the fact that some autistic people do not have intellectual disability and also do not struggle with daily living skills. It's only the social skills we have occasional problems with. THAT is what makes us "High-Functioning".

This has been my experience.

Maybe the term should be reserved for those who fit that criteria, though I suspect many of us fit it or appear to

for periods of time while burning ourselves out. Or perhaps it depends on what we are judging ourselves as high

functioning in. I am high functioning in some areas (mostly obscure areas) and function inadequacy at many

things that come under the 'any idiot can do that' umbrella. However if I succeed in rearranging my life to fit my

abilities then I too will be left with my difficulties being social. Perhaps we should be renamed, as having the

potential to be high functioning if not constantly being stuffed into a box.

When people talk about "struggling with daily living skills," they are usually speaking about things like toileting, washing up, cooking, things like that. "ADL skills."

Most "high-functioning" people are proficient in ADL skills; what they might struggle with is IADL skills (paying bills, dealing with adversity).

In the milieu I work in, there have to be words to talk to others in the field what we are dealing with for any given individual. If I am trying to find a supported living coach for a person, for example, I have to talk to the potential SLC coaches and give them some idea of what the individual needs. A lot of undefined terms are thrown around, and "high functioning" is one of them. There are some negative ones that I will not repeat. I don't think we are supposed to use "high functioning" anymore either. The problem is communication of what exactly a give person needs to help them live a decent life. I think most of these terms are developed by people who work in the field and do not come from the people affected.

I do think, that at least in my state and in my field, it is more difficult to get appropriate services for people with autism who have normal IQs, but who still can't navigate normal activities of daily living. There tends to be the judgment that if you have a normal IQ and understand things, you should be able to do thing. I struggle to get services for some people. One thing this forum has done for me is providing me with better vocabulary and understanding of what some people need. If I can express it better to the powers that be, I can get the most helpful services for people.

You are correct.

And...what does IADL stand for?

"Instrumental Activities of Daily Living."

Thanks for this! I hadn't previously been exposed to this distinction, and it's a really helpful one for me understand my recent diagnosis.