what does very high functioning mean to you?

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how high functioning are you?
im told mine is very mild so i assume im very high functioning for my autism

I think high functioning means someone can take care of their basic needs, and doesn't need a guardian. Has no major intellectual, physical or verbal impairment.

I have level 1 asd and require school/work accommodations, mild support.

Does Asperger's syndrome still strictly exist as a condition?

Either way, I would suggest that very high functioning autism would be similar to that of Asperger's syndrome. And I believe those with Asperger's syndrome are generally of average to above average intelligence.

Even though I cannot say I am fond of labels, I believe to meet the criteria for high-functioning autism, one merely needs to have an IQ which is higher than 70. Thus, it's somewhat of a misleading title to assign to one's self as "high-functioning" to me would imply that anyone on the autism spectrum who doesn't have classic autism can lead an independent and fulfilling life, which simply isn't true.

I presume I'm high-functioning. I was diagnosed at 32 after a lifetime of bewilderment, so in the years between childhood and then I learned enough coping strategies to get by. I've held down a full time job for 19 of the 21 years since 1996, so I mostly function in society, though as time goes on I become more aware of my limitations (getting to 40 gives you enough experience to learn what you can and cannot cope with).

I'm ok when things are going smoothly. I can just go with it and keep going. I have a bad time when I feel personally attacked or disrespected, either on the internet or IRL. When that I happens, I go into my "do what you must, avoid what you can" mode, and stay away from people as much as possible until it's all over. As a middle-aged adult man, I'm not proud of this, but it's what I've been given and what I have to do to carry on.

BobNewbiesBus' example fits me too.
I have a life (partner, job, house, pets) and don't need external support.
As I get older I'm starting to see where I differ from the herd and coping with that can be very frustrating but not in a way that will endanger my self-sufficiency.

Seeing what other people in the community have to struggle with I consider myself fortunate but I've had my share of bad experiences and setbacks too.

I was essentially told that I just meet the criteria for a diagnosis and so my autism is very mild. I'm 'very high-functioning' so I suppose I'm at a near NT level of cognitive functioning. I have some social and communication difficulties, special interests that come and go,and some VERY mild sensory sensitivities. My autism was probably more 'obvious' when I was younger.

To me high functioning means for whatever a person's condition is.

Like a person is high functioning.... for someone with severe autism.

Which means they are still low functioning compared to someone without autism.

Now mine is considered moderate to severe within the level 2 range - depending on what I am being tested on. So by level 3 standards I have mild autism. But by level 1 standards I have severe autism.

I guess it all depends on where the bar is being set.

Yes, for me too, HFA means mild autism. I guess that it formally means something like being able to participate in society. But really, the name high functioning autism is ridiculous and wrong. I regard myself as having mild autism, no official diagonisis.

Terms like "high functioning" were created by benighted do-gooders who misunderstood Asperger's entirely. I feel like I've left them behind - truly, what language do they speak on their planet? "High functioning" is a label. I think it's supposed to mean "smart" or some variation of it.

When I hear the term, "high functioning autism", I think of Asperger syndrome; verbal the majority of the time, obviously socially awkward but not enough to require constant assistance, and in need of a few mild/moderate adaptations to succeed at work or school.

When I hear "very high functioning" I think of people closer to the "broad autism phenotype" who are right on the edge, showing a few symptoms, but not enough and with not enough severity to be in any way truly debilitating.

I consider myself to have "moderate Asperger syndrome". I know Asperger's isn't a thing in the DSM anymore, but I like to describe it that way, because it acknowledges the fact that I'm high functioning, but still not high functioning enough to pass for NT, regardless of how hard I try.

To me, high functioning does not mean "closer to NT and it's standards". Or "less obvious/visible", or "Verbal or closer to norm", or even the "more in tuned in the society's standards of being 'healthy'".

To me, high functioning is multidimensional. It's not all about accomplishments, or number of internal struggles.
Or what this person can or cannot do.


In a conventional sense, I'm high functioning enough just because I could pass and have enough cognition to pass.

In reality, by NT's standards, I'm somewhere in a bit less functioning side of what people calls 'social, language competence, the 'inappropriate effect', and emotional maturity'. (Classic!)
And high functioning at the rest, including 'overall mental and emotional health'. (Meaning, I have little to none of those internal struggle like anxiety, or maladaptive thoughts or emotions like envy. Nor I'm emotionally and socially needy to maintain stability.)
Then there are things I could afford having, like sensitivity without sensory overload or sensory induced meltdown/shutdown. But that does not mean it's any more useful as long as the filter interferes with communication.

And so on, and so on...

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The first time I ever encountered the term "high functioning" was circa 1970- long before I (or anyone else in the World) ever heard of something called "the autism spectrum".

It was applied to someone our family knew who was schzophrenic. They guy was a respectable upper middle class breadwinner. But apparently he was cuckoo for cocoa puffs (at least in the opinion of my parents). I asked dad how thats possible. And he said that the guy would be classified as a "high functioning psychotic" (or some phrase that had "high functioning" in it). So thats why he was able to blend into society.

So I was aquainted with the phrase "high functioning" loooong before I ever heard it applied to autism. So I never assumed (like most WPers seem to) that the phrase was invented for the autism spectrum. Its a term used for many different psychiatric conditions.

To me ( waiting on Dx ) , very high functioning means the ability to get through life ( i.e jobs , relationships , family ) without anyone knowing you have it ( i.e you are good at hiding things or your autism is at a level that is barely detectable by a professional )

Maybe severity of autism has nothing to do with it all and it is just your ability to cope that makes you very high functioning

As a high-functioning Aspie I can take care of myself, mask most of my symptoms without too much effort, and know how to dress and act normal when out. Subconsciously I don't want to be ridiculed and I am sensitive to other people's thoughts. Being NT on the outside is important to me, as very few Aspies understand.