Discussion Do you think that the labels "high functioning autistic" and "low functioning autistic" are...

[ijustwishtodie]

...representative enough to describe autistic people as a whole? I mainly want perspectives of other autistic people regarding this though I also don't mind seeing some allistic perspectives on this too.

In my case, I don't feel like the labels that are used in the title are descriptive enough to describe what my life is like and the struggles are going through. On one hand, I'm not exactly low functioning as I can speak, I can use the bathroom on my own, I have the ability to think about stuff, I can go on the bus to go to university and there are a bunch of other things that I can do which, unfortunately, people on the lower end of the autistic spectrum cannot do.

However, I don't think I can consider myself as high functioning either as I still struggle massively in my day to day tasks. I have a lot of executive dysfunction. If I try to study and I get interrupted during me studying (which happens a lot), I can't cope with that and there's nothing I can do. I also struggle massively with socialising and I'd say that I arguably socialise worse than other autistic people do. I also struggle dealing with basic instructions and basic tasks such as tying shoe laces and part of me still gets upset that I don't win at everything (though I just want to be dead now). I also struggle with planning which is a reason why I can't easily kill myself. I also tend to not do things on my own which means that the youtube videos I watch right now are more or less the same videos I repeatedly watched already as I lack the ability to look for new things on my own

All in all, I'd say that I'm high functioning in some regards and low functioning in other regards which is why I don't think that I can be considered high functioning or low functioning overall.

Though that's just my case with this infuriating and painful disorder. I'm curious as to whether you think the labels "high functioning" and "low functioning" are accurate enough to describe autistic people

 

[Weinerwinner]

Hi there. I was diagnosed with Asperger's or now called HFA many years ago. The diagnosis gave me access to all sorts of support resources on the NHS. Anything from medication to peer support. However, it has hindered my life to such a large degree that I want to be euthanised which isn't available. Hence why I'm now on this forum... So much of life is enjoyed by the entitled today that I don't really see any reason to participate. Money is everything and if you can't earn it because of illness, you are screwed...

 

[unimaginativelamp]

I hate the terms "high-" and "low functioning" in regard to anything. Neither actually say anything. Example, what does it mean to be "high functioning?" Arent most people with autism (or anything) likely to do well in one area versus another? Does low functioning mean the person is just drooling in a corner?
But thats just me. I feel the terms disregard any nuance.
Also. Apologies for my inability to spell.

 

[sserafim]

I think that there needs to be a distinguishment between Asperger's and autism. It's not the same thing. I was in middle school with a "low-functioning" autistic boy and he was in special education, had a carer/special-ed teacher, looked at an iPad all the time, and had frequent temper tantrums. Personally, I breezed through middle school and people would bully me for being smart. They would take my progress report/report card and look at my grades (all 99s or 100s). I have Asperger's and ADHD and I guess I'm also considered "gifted", aka the opposite of special education. I struggle with socializing and executive function. I'm not sure if I struggle with mundane tasks as well, but it took me until middle school to learn how to tie a shoelace because I have terrible hand eye coordination and spatial and bodily awareness.

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I hate the terms "high-" and "low functioning" in regard to anything. Neither actually say anything. Example, what does it mean to be "high functioning?" Arent most people with autism (or anything) likely to do well in one area versus another? Does low functioning mean the person is just drooling in a corner?
But thats just me. I feel the terms disregard any nuance.
Also. Apologies for my inability to spell.

I fully agree with you. Also, because of your last sentence, I kept on reading your entire post over and over again to see if there was a spelling mistake but I think that you spelt every word correctly

I think that there needs to be a distinguishment between Asperger's and autism. It's not the same thing.

What do you mean by your first two sentences? I thought that the term "aspergers" is equivalent to "autism" but just got replaced with the word "autism" due to how the term "aspergers" was invented by a nazi or something. I'm most likely wrong though as I heard it from an autism subreddit and I believed it as not many people use the term "aspergers" anyway

 

[sserafim]

I fully agree with you. Also, because of your last sentence, I kept on reading your entire post over and over again to see if there was a spelling mistake but I think that you spelt every word correctly

What do you mean by your first two sentences? I thought that the term "aspergers" is equivalent to "autism" but just got replaced with the word "autism" due to how the term "aspergers" was invented by a nazi or something. I'm most likely wrong though as I heard it from an autism subreddit and I believed it as not many people use the term "aspergers" anyway

Asperger's is autism level 1 aka "high-functioning", and it's mainly the social issues of autism.

 

[Sad_Autistic_boy_101]

I don't believe they are right or accurate. Especially as people's circumstances change as they get older.

In the UK, Aspergers and HFA are separate disabilities when they existed.

My diagnosis makes no sense. I was diagnosed with Autistic Disorder before ASD existed. The lady told my parents I was "High functioning". I didn't however relate to anyone with the same label as I have.

I'm unable to cook, go out alone, shop, work out money, shower/ get dressed independently, talk verbally to people (I mainly use an IPAD or sign language to communciate) I didn't have an education as I couldn't cope in school and then spent some time in an Autism unit from age 16.

I can type though and read to some extent. (I struggle with processing information) I am also able to know what I want in life like being on this site.

 

[deathslament]

never liked labels

 

[Malaria]

I'm not sure if I struggle with mundane tasks as well, but it took me until middle school to learn how to tie a shoelace because I have terrible hand eye coordination and spatial and bodily awareness

Jesus Christ, same here...

 

[sserafim]

Jesus Christ, same here...

Btw I still can't even ride a bike. My body just won't cooperate. My coordination sucks haha. I wasn't great at the piano because both hands had to do different things and I think it confused me lol. I couldn't coordinate them well

 

[Malaria]

I still can't even ride a bike…lol

SAME.

 

[Silent_cries]

Honestly I think the labels are a mess. I bet there is a lot of non-verbal autistics who are labelled as low functioning when in reality they have the same mindset and iq as a high functioning but just can't talk. I actually saw a documentary where a non-verbal person with autism had experienced just that. (he could read and write). Just bc he was non-verbal people thought he was low functioning and treated him as a child, when in reality he had the same iq and mindset as an average person his age. Honestly I feel so bad for those who are non-verbal, they're so misunderstood

 

[0000000000000]

I just know that my functionality is dog water.

Just seeing some people here on the forum writing so many relatively well written posts in a relatively short time, i'm left wondering 'how the hell exactly they do it?'

I guess in part high levels of constant stress since kid have left my brain fried.

 

[untothedepths]

If two people side by side are both incredibly different and complex I don't see how any sort of mental illness or challenge is any different, especially autism. Autism has likely aided in the ruination of my life. I'm not very intelligent at all and struggle immensely with socialization. I can write but I can't calculate anything. Already I'm pretty much on hard mode in life. Add probable BPD and maybe even a few other mental illnesses and I wouldn't consider myself "high-functioning" at all. Less severe than others? Sure. But I'm not doing well, either.

 

[666aphom3t]

This is how I feel autistic people generally sided in educational discourse.
High vs low functioning is out of date language - not only because of the stigma it might carry, but also because like diagnostic criteria it's based on how autistic people are perceived and not what's actually happening in our heads. Low/high functioning autism is an inaccurate label similar to how now Asperger's is recognized as inaccurate. Also, autism is not a mental illness it is just a neurological condition, a different kind of thinking--however, it's staggeringly co-occuring with mental illness. I tried to find it but couldn't ,, if I remember right there was a 'new' spectrum that was theorized recently by a group of autistics that hoped to sort all ppl with autism into 4 different subtypes that was high/low masking and high/low support needs which I think resonates. However, I think the circle spectrum is better at explaining how autism can present so differently in each of us. Also important factors that ppl might associate w higher or lower support needs: catatonia (burnout), pathological demand avoidance, monotropism with or without adhd.

 

[Dead Ghost]

High-functioning autism is not related to Asperger's apart from being grouped together in category 1 of ASD.

There has been much controversy with the current definitions of autism:

https://www.autismeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Diagnostic-criteria-for-autism-under-the-DSM-5.pdf

Pages 53 and 809 of the DSM-V say the following (I have translated them from the Spanish, which is the version that is in the library near my house and that I copied a few years ago):

53
Autism spectrum disorder includes disorders previously called early childhood autism, infantile autism, Kanner's autism, high-functioning autism, atypical autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Asperger's disorder.

809
Autism spectrum disorder is a new DSM-5 disorder that encompasses autistic disorder (autism), Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified that were previously listed in DSM-IV. Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by deficits in two basic domains: 1) impaired social communication and interaction and 2) repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests.

My diagnosis has never been high functioning autism. On the part of the public administration it is listed as 'Developmental disorder' and on the part of private psychologists as 'Asperger', in both cases it is currently included in TEA-level 1 and in both cases the origin of 'these disorders are due to an abnormal development of the brain, it is therefore a physical problem that leads to various mental disorders (what is due, we do not know for sure, the brain is a very adaptive organ to the environment).

//

L'autisme d'Alt funcionament no te relació amb l'Asperger més enlla d'estar agrupats tots dos dins de la categoria 1 del TEA.

Hi ha hagut molta polémica amb les definicions actuals d'autisme:

https://www.autismeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Diagnostic-criteria-for-autism-under-the-DSM-5.pdf

Les pàgines 53 i 809 del DSM-V diuen el següent (les he traduït del castellà, que és la versió que hi ha a la biblioteca de prop de casa meva i que vaig copiar fa uns anys):

53
El trastorno del espectro autista incluye trastornos previamente llamados autismo de la primera infancia, autismo infantil, autismo de Kanner, autismo de alto funcionamiento, autismo atípico, trastorno generalizado del desarrollo no especificado, trastorno desintegrativo de la infancia y trastorno de Asperger.

809
El trastorno del espectro autista es un trastorno nuevo del DSM-5 que abarca el trastorno autista (autismo), el trastorno de Asperger, el trastorno desintegrativo infantil, el trastorno de Rett y el trastorno generalizado del desarrollo no especificado en otra categoría que antes figuraban en el DSM-IV. El trastorno del espectro autista se caracteriza por el déficit en dos ámbitos básicos: 1) deterioro en la comunicación e interacción sociales y 2) patrones de comportamiento, actividades e intereses repetitivos y restringidos.

El meu diagnóstic no ha estat mai d'autisme d'alt funcionament. Per part de l'administració pública consta com a 'Trastorn del desenvolupament' i per part dels psicòlegs particulars com a 'Asperger', en tots dos casos s'engloba actualment dins del TEA-nivell 1 y en tots dos casos l'origen d'aquests trastorns està en un anormal desenvolupament del cervell, és doncs un problema físic que comporta diversos trastorns mentals (a que es deu, no se sap del cert, el cervell és un organ molt adaptatiu a l'entorn).

 

[sserafim]

High-functioning autism is not related to Asperger's apart from being grouped together in category 1 of ASD.

There has been much controversy with the current definitions of autism:

https://www.autismeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Diagnostic-criteria-for-autism-under-the-DSM-5.pdf

Pages 53 and 809 of the DSM-V say the following (I have translated them from the Spanish, which is the version that is in the library near my house and that I copied a few years ago):

53
Autism spectrum disorder includes disorders previously called early childhood autism, infantile autism, Kanner's autism, high-functioning autism, atypical autism, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, childhood disintegrative disorder, and Asperger's disorder.

809
Autism spectrum disorder is a new DSM-5 disorder that encompasses autistic disorder (autism), Asperger's disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett's disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified that were previously listed in DSM-IV. Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by deficits in two basic domains: 1) impaired social communication and interaction and 2) repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests.

My diagnosis has never been high functioning autism. On the part of the public administration it is listed as 'Developmental disorder' and on the part of private psychologists as 'Asperger', in both cases it is currently included in TEA-level 1 and in both cases the origin of 'these disorders are due to an abnormal development of the brain, it is therefore a physical problem that leads to various mental disorders (what is due, we do not know for sure, the brain is a very adaptive organ to the environment).

//

L'autisme d'Alt funcionament no te relació amb l'Asperger més enlla d'estar agrupats tots dos dins de la categoria 1 del TEA.

Hi ha hagut molta polémica amb les definicions actuals d'autisme:

https://www.autismeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Diagnostic-criteria-for-autism-under-the-DSM-5.pdf

Les pàgines 53 i 809 del DSM-V diuen el següent (les he traduït del castellà, que és la versió que hi ha a la biblioteca de prop de casa meva i que vaig copiar fa uns anys):

53
El trastorno del espectro autista incluye trastornos previamente llamados autismo de la primera infancia, autismo infantil, autismo de Kanner, autismo de alto funcionamiento, autismo atípico, trastorno generalizado del desarrollo no especificado, trastorno desintegrativo de la infancia y trastorno de Asperger.

809
El trastorno del espectro autista es un trastorno nuevo del DSM-5 que abarca el trastorno autista (autismo), el trastorno de Asperger, el trastorno desintegrativo infantil, el trastorno de Rett y el trastorno generalizado del desarrollo no especificado en otra categoría que antes figuraban en el DSM-IV. El trastorno del espectro autista se caracteriza por el déficit en dos ámbitos básicos: 1) deterioro en la comunicación e interacción sociales y 2) patrones de comportamiento, actividades e intereses repetitivos y restringidos.

El meu diagnóstic no ha estat mai d'autisme d'alt funcionament. Per part de l'administració pública consta com a 'Trastorn del desenvolupament' i per part dels psicòlegs particulars com a 'Asperger', en tots dos casos s'engloba actualment dins del TEA-nivell 1 y en tots dos casos l'origen d'aquests trastorns està en un anormal desenvolupament del cervell, és doncs un problema físic que comporta diversos trastorns mentals (a que es deu, no se sap del cert, el cervell és un organ molt adaptatiu a l'entorn).

My diagnosis was ADHD and autism level 1, formerly known as Asperger's syndrome

 

[ijustwishtodie]

I don't believe they are right or accurate. Especially as people's circumstances change as they get older.

In the UK, Aspergers and HFA are separate disabilities when they existed.

My diagnosis makes no sense. I was diagnosed with Autistic Disorder before ASD existed. The lady told my parents I was "High functioning". I didn't however relate to anyone with the same label as I have.

I'm unable to cook, go out alone, shop, work out money, shower/ get dressed independently, talk verbally to people (I mainly use an IPAD or sign language to communciate) I didn't have an education as I couldn't cope in school and then spent some time in an Autism unit from age 16.

I can type though and read to some extent. (I struggle with processing information) I am also able to know what I want in life like being on this site.

I relate so much to what you said, especially the third paragraph. I got called high functioning as well and whilst I may be able to go through academics okay (though I feel like my academic skills are stagnating and perhaps even declining really quickly), I certainly can't do anything beyond this. I can get dressed and shower independently, though it took me several years to get to that point as I was a late bloomer, but I can't cook or shop for items that have a long list to them. I also have never made a single friend or acquaintance irl. I definitely believe that the high functioning label isn't accurate on you and I'm sorry for the things you have to go through due to autism. I wish that a cure for autism cam be developed soon.

never liked labels

I personally think that labels can be good to an extent if used correctly. However, labels quickly becomes a mess when it gets used incorrectly and I believe that this is the case with the labels "high functioning" and "low functioning"

Jesus Christ, same here...

Same here as well though, instead of me learning how to tie shoe laces during middle school, I only learnt how to tie my shoe laces last month. I'm almost 19 and it took 18 years to begin to grasp on how to tie my shoe laces though, right now, I can only do it slowly

Honestly I think the labels are a mess. I bet there is a lot of non-verbal autistics who are labelled as low functioning when in reality they have the same mindset and iq as a high functioning but just can't talk. I actually saw a documentary where a non-verbal person with autism had experienced just that. (he could read and write). Just bc he was non-verbal people thought he was low functioning and treated him as a child, when in reality he had the same iq and mindset as an average person his age. Honestly I feel so bad for those who are non-verbal, they're so misunderstood

I agree and your post made me remember a theory I had regarding life when I was younger. I remember believing that intelligence isn't as important as people think it is. Yes, of course intelligence is important to an extent but it isn't this holy grail of a trait that would be the determining factor as to whether somebody succeeds or not. I believe that this is the case because, to be successful, one must also have a high (or perhaps even average) EQ or, in other words, an average amount of social skills and an average amount of emotional intelligence to say the things that people want you to say at the right times.

I remember seeing a post on reddit on where somebody said that intelligence doesn't matter too much without social skills as, without social skills, one cannot express their intelligence to others causing others to think they're not intelligent. Unfortunately, this is the case in the example that you gave just goes to show that is the case. There could be intelligent people out there who could solve some of the world's crisis yet people ignore them because of capitalism and/or because of lack of social skills or EQ. I'm starting to believe that social skills matter far, far more than intelligence in the corporate world now

I just know that my functionality is dog water.

Just seeing some people here on the forum writing so many relatively well written posts in a relatively short time, i'm left wondering 'how the hell exactly they do it?'

I guess in part high levels of constant stress since kid have left my brain fried.

I relate to all 3 paragraphs. My functionality is absolutely abysmal too and I also get confused at how many people write well written posts in the time that they do it. My posts tend to be awful as I see it as it being all incoherent and jumbled up. Not to mention at, whenever I vent about something within my life, people always tend to misinterpret me which makes me feel awful. However, on the rare chance I see other people vent about something that I tried to vent about, people suddenly understand them and can understand what they're trying to say. I just wish they could do that with me but I think I never express myself clearly as my vents always gets misinterpreted in the same way implying there's a systematic issue at hand instead of it being the case where I may have just vented to the wrong people. As for your third paragraph, I relate to that as well. My brain is basically always perpetually stressed and I get a headache basically every single day due to it

If two people side by side are both incredibly different and complex I don't see how any sort of mental illness or challenge is any different, especially autism. Autism has likely aided in the ruination of my life. I'm not very intelligent at all and struggle immensely with socialization. I can write but I can't calculate anything. Already I'm pretty much on hard mode in life. Add probable BPD and maybe even a few other mental illnesses and I wouldn't consider myself "high-functioning" at all. Less severe than others? Sure. But I'm not doing well, either.

Autism has contributed to ruining my life too and I didn't even acknowledge it for most of my life due to how I wasn't self aware enough to understand. I hate autism so much

 

[Meteora]

Guess it is always incomplete if we try to divide a thing or state or condition into two parts. Reality is always much more complex.

 

[Dead Ghost]

My diagnosis was ADHD and autism level 1, formerly known as Asperger's syndrome

ASD-level 1 does not encompass only Asperger's. For me, for example, on my certificate it says 'Developmental disorder', on the other hand psychologists say it's Asperger's... but Asperger's cannot be diagnosed in an adult, as it has to be followed up from a very early age small and I was diagnosed at 40.

In any case, with the current nomenclature I have ASD-level 1.
Regarding ADHD, I have not been diagnosed, but following a class at school when I was little or currently in a face-to-face course are impossible goals, because I immediately disconnect and start thinking about other things.

//

El TEA-nivell 1 no engloba només l'Asperger. A mi per exemple, en el meu certificat posa 'Trastorn del desenvolupament', en canvi els psicòlegs diuen que és Asperger.. pero l'Asperger no es pot diagnosticar en una persona adulta, ja que s'ha de fer un seguiment desde ben petit i a mi me'l van diagnosticar als 40 anys.

En tot cas, amb la nomenclatura actual tinc TEA-nivell 1.
Respecte el TDAH no el tinc pas diagnosticat, pero seguir una classe a l'escola quan era petit o actualment en un curs presencial són propósits impossibles, doncs de seguida desconecto i em poso a pensar en altres coses.

 

[ijustwishtodie]

Guess it is always incomplete if we try to divide a thing or state or condition into two parts. Reality is always much more complex.

Well said