Published on 12, July, 2020
'High functioning' is a term commonly used to describe people diagnosed with autism without an intellectual disability.However, despite the term's prevalence in medical journals and everyday use, new research shows the term can be misleading and advocates have called for its use to be dropped.Post-doctoral researcher Dr Gail Alvares said while 'high functioning' is used to describe people diagnosed with autism who have IQs in the normal range, it does not indicate their functional status.A new study has found labelling children with autism 'high functioning' can be misleading.
However, despite the term's prevalence in medical journals and everyday use, new research shows the term can be misleading and advocates have called for its use to be dropped.
Post-doctoral researcher Dr Gail Alvares said while 'high functioning' is used to describe people diagnosed with autism who have IQs in the normal range, it does not indicate their functional status.A new study has found labelling children with autism 'high functioning' can be misleading.
www.brisbanetimes.com.au/.../new-research-shows-high-functioning-is-an-inaccurate-autism-label-20190619-p51z9t.html
The gap between expected adaptive functioning due to IQ and actual level of adaptive functioning can be quite large.
The terms high and low functioning are quite misleading. In no way do they describe abilities someone may have.
What they tend to do is disguise needs and abilities. Someone described as 'low functioning' may have any abilities they have ignored or not recognised. Someone described as 'high functioning' may have any needs unrecognised. And it does not accurately describe intelligence, as someone 'high functioning' may have an IQ (that mysterious quality defined by scores in an IQ test) well below the supposed norm of 100.
And I am in awe of some of the skills some so called 'low functioning' autistic people have.
Trainspotter said: And it does not accurately describe intelligence,
How would you accurately describe intelligence ?
"It does not accurately describe intelligence" Totally agreed.
My stepdaughter knows how I do far better than any professional I've ever seen. She was instrumental in my getting the help I get now .