Published on 12, July, 2020
During my autism assessment, the psychiatrist said that although my autism affects many aspects of my life, I was still able to communicate to her well and therefore only had it “mild”. I understand that I have low support needs and that other autistic people have different or more extreme struggles and need more support, but I was masking a lot in the assessment in order to answer the questions as clearly as possible, which completely exhausted me and impacted how I felt over the next couple of days. As Keedie said in the TV show “A kind of spark”, her autism only seems mild because ‘we make it so, at a great personal cost’. Autism has a huge impact on my life, even if no one else can see it, and especially if I’m purposefully changing my behaviour to fit in or adapt to other people. Just because it seems mild to you doesn’t mean it actually is to me. I feel like this is why the terms “high functioning” and “low functioning” are being used less in favour of “support needs” which I feel is more accurate and less diminishing of autistic people’s struggles. I’d be interested to know other people’s opinions too as I know some people don’t mind the word “mild”!
I think the 'mild/severe' labels are very unhelpful. As Alienatedhuman said, 'For others around it’s “mild” because it affects them mildly, because Ive mastered my coping strategies.'
The 'mild' label suggests that autism is some sort of quirk, and one that's easy to deal with. It doesn't acknowledge that masking is a daily & exhausting effort, nor does it acknowledge the anxiety and depression that occurs as a result of this constant effort to blend in and stay safe in such a chaotic world.
'The terms “high functioning” and “low functioning” are being used less in favour of “support needs” which I feel is more accurate and less diminishing of autistic people’s struggles.' - Yes - this!
The problem with 'high functioning' and 'low functioning' is the rather one dimensional way it's used. 'Symptoms' are bunched together from which an overall labelling of 'high' 'moderate' and 'low' functioning is obtained. The problem is there are multiple components to being autistic, and very few will be all high or all low functioning in those components.
Another failure, not seeing things in comparative terms. Needing comparatively less help and support is very much different from not needing any help and support at all.
I came across this a few years ago. It's more in line ,IMO, as to how things should be in order for an autistic person to get at least an adequate level of help and support.www.yesataretelearningtrust.net/.../Autism Umbrella.pdf
Well said, and thank you for sharing the Autism Umbrella resource. This is a useful summary taken from the text:
'It’s common for autistic people to have difficulties dismissed or described as being 'mild', when in fact, to reach the criteria for diagnosis, there must be considerable difficulties in several areas of life. Likewise, autistic people described as being ‘severe’ can repeatedly experience having skills and strengths overlooked.'