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What are your thoughts on the term "High Functioning"?

Jalapeno

I've noticed quite a few autistic people on this forum describing themselves as "high functioning." I'm genuinely interested in hearing why people choose to use this label.

Personally, I dislike it and would prefer not to see it being used.

From the outside, based on my qualifications and career, many people would probably describe me as "high functioning." Yet I still struggle with many aspects of daily life and work, and I worry the label makes those difficulties seem less significant or suggests I need little support or reasonable adjustments, which isn't the case.

I'm also not convinced that the Levels 1, 2 and 3 always solve the problem, as our support needs can vary enormously depending on the environment we're in.

I also wonder whether some people use "high functioning" simply to mean they don't have a learning disability. If so, wouldn't it be clearer just to say that?

For those who do use the term, what benefit do you feel it provides—for yourself or when explaining your autism to other people? I'm genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives.

NAS - any thoughts on running a poll on this ?

Parents

  • I don't think it's a very useful term. It makes it sound like we don't require support at all rather than just needing less than others on the spectrum. In fact I think it makes it sound like we manage better than neurotypical people. I certainly don't. It also backs up the idea that the spectrum is linear and ha 2 ends.

    I agree with you that it and the levels do not show how much our needs can vary. I don't think either is a useful system. I do completely understand that there are individuals that require significantly more support than I do though but how that can be easily communicated I'm not sure.

    There are some people crying out for a separate diagnosis for profound autism for those autistic individuals with significant learning difficulties and support needs. Would this help with this issue? Or would it just be the same issue with different terminology?

  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum
    Expecto_Patronum said:
    There are some people crying out for a separate diagnosis for profound autism for those autistic individuals with significant learning difficulties and support needs. Would this help with this issue? Or would it just be the same issue with different terminology?

    I think it may be helpful. The spectrum is wide, the perception of it shifts slowly, but still it's hard for many people to comprehend, how much it varies. I heard of stories, where a person with higher support needs or their caregivers were not taken seriously, and told, that autism is just a quirk. So the terminology, whatever it is- is important. Even for me it would sound diminishing, because my difficulties are also not just quirks, but I can function to some degree. 

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  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum
    Expecto_Patronum said:
    There are some people crying out for a separate diagnosis for profound autism for those autistic individuals with significant learning difficulties and support needs. Would this help with this issue? Or would it just be the same issue with different terminology?

    I think it may be helpful. The spectrum is wide, the perception of it shifts slowly, but still it's hard for many people to comprehend, how much it varies. I heard of stories, where a person with higher support needs or their caregivers were not taken seriously, and told, that autism is just a quirk. So the terminology, whatever it is- is important. Even for me it would sound diminishing, because my difficulties are also not just quirks, but I can function to some degree. 

Children
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