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high functioning/low functioning

piggy1401

does anyone else find those words a bit belittling? just because I'm 'high functioning' doesn't mean I don't need support, I still struggle. they just use the phrase because people with 'high functioning' autism can be 'ignored'. I don't care what level of autism I have, I have been diagnosed with autism so I need support. 

or just me that thinks that?

Parents

  • I’ve said before I believe the terms high / low functioning gained traction when researchers started using them as a euphemism for high / low IQ. There is an argument for making a distinction between high / low IQ autism. ICD-11 has “6A02.0 Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language”. So there may be some acknowledgment in medican for the value of such a distinction. But given there are 5 different kinds of autism specified in ICD-11 plus 2 catch all codes I’m doubtful if clinicians will use it.

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  • I’ve said before I believe the terms high / low functioning gained traction when researchers started using them as a euphemism for high / low IQ. There is an argument for making a distinction between high / low IQ autism. ICD-11 has “6A02.0 Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language”. So there may be some acknowledgment in medican for the value of such a distinction. But given there are 5 different kinds of autism specified in ICD-11 plus 2 catch all codes I’m doubtful if clinicians will use it.

Children
  • in reply to Peter

    Also no ones going to say “I have a Autism spectrum disorder without disorder of intellectual development and with mild or no impairment of functional language.” They’re going to say “I’m autistic.” Adding anything more than a couple of words on to ‘autistic’ is going to be too much of a mouthful and loose peoples attention.