High-functioning autism is not a medical term and is not clearly defined.
What is high-functioning
autism?
High-functioning
autism is not an official medical diagnosis. It is often used to refer to
people with autism who read, write, speak, and manage life skills without much
help.
Autism
is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social interaction and
difficulty communicating. Some people with autism need minimal support, while
others require a lot of support every day. That's why autism is now known as
autism spectrum disorder (asd).
High-functioning
autism is often used to refer to people with low support needs. Read on to
learn more.
Is high-functioning
autism different from Asperger's syndrome?
The
fifth edition (dsm-5) of the diagnostic and statistical manual for mental
disorders was updated and published in 2013. Before the most recent update, the
DSM had described in detail a condition called Asperger's syndrome.
People
diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome share several symptoms with people with
autism, but they don't delay:
- use of language
- cognitive development
- develop age-appropriate self-help skills
- adapt to the development of behavior
- be curious about the environment
Compared
to the symptoms of people with autism, their symptoms are usually milder and
less likely to affect their daily lives. They may even be considered
"powerful".
However,
high-functioning autism has never been a formal clinical diagnosis, and Asperger's
syndrome is eliminated from dsm-5 along with several other neurodevelopmental
disorders.
People
who have these types of difficulties in social interaction and communication or
exhibit repetitive or restrictive behaviors will now be simply diagnosed with
asd. It has nothing to do with how much support they might need.
What is the level of autism?
Asd is
divided into three levels:
- Level 1. People at this
level may have symptoms that don't interfere too much with their work,
school, or relationships. This is what most people refer to when using
high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome.
- Level 2. People at this level need some outside support every day. Examples
of external support include speech therapy and social skills training.
- Level 3. People at this level need a lot of external support every day. In
some cases, support may include full-time aid or intensive therapy.
How is the asd level
determined?
While
it is difficult to determine a person's asd level, trained psychologists have
tools to help them achieve this goal, such as the diagnostic observation
program for autism, second edition (ados-2). This assessment is often combined
with a complete history of development.
Autism
spectrum disorder can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. However, many children, and even
some adults, may not be diagnosed until much later.
Being
diagnosed at a later age can make support more difficult. If you or your
child's pediatrician thinks they may have autism, consider making an
appointment with an asd specialist. Learn more about asd testing.
Supports autism
For
different levels of asd, there are no recommendations for standardization. Support
depends on each person's unique symptoms.
People
with varying degrees of asd may need the same type of support, but people with
grade 2 or 3 asd may need more intensive, longer-term support than people with
grade 1 asd.
Potential
asd support includes:
- Speech therapy. ASD can cause a
variety of speech problems. Some people with autism may not be able to
speak at all, while others may not be able to talk to others. Speech
therapy can help solve a range of speech problems. Learn more about speech
disorders.
- Physiotherapy. Some people with autism have problems with their
motor skills. This can make movements such as jumping, walking, or running
difficult. Physical therapy can help strengthen muscles and improve motor
skills.
- Occupational therapy. Occupational therapy can help you learn how to
use your hands, legs, or other body parts more effectively. This can make
daily tasks and work easier.
- Sensory training. People with autism are usually sensitive to
sound, light, and touch. Sensory training can help people adapt more to
sensory input.
- App Behavior Analysis (ABA). This is a technique that encourages positive or
beneficial behaviors while reducing behaviors that interfere with
function. There are several types of app behavior analysis (ABA), but most
use a reward system.
- Drugs. While there are no medications designed to treat ASD, some can
help control specific symptoms, such as depression or emotional
instability.
Bottom line?
High-functioning
autism is not a medical term and is not clearly defined.
Someone
using this term might be referring to something similar to a level 1 asd. It
may also rival Asperger's syndrome, a condition that is not currently
recognized by APA.
If you
think you or your child have any symptoms of asd, see a doctor or specialist. Blogs
can be another important source of support.