Understanding autism can be challenging. While high functioning autism is not an official diagnosis, it is a convenient term used by doctors, parents and teachers to describe individuals on the autism spectrum, but not profoundly affected. The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders increases every year, and most are at the higher end of the spectrum. Autism can effect social behaviors, sensory comprehension, language development and more. How these symptoms display in each individual may differ and some people with autism may only have a few of these symptoms.
Understanding autism can be challenging. While high functioning autism is not an official diagnosis, it is a convenient term used by doctors, parents and teachers to describe individuals on the autism spectrum, but not profoundly affected. The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders increases every year, and most are at the higher end of the spectrum. Autism can effect social behaviors, sensory comprehension, language development and more. How these symptoms display in each individual may differ and some people with autism may only have a few of these symptoms.
Autism Diagnoses
There are several possible diagnoses on the autism spectrum and an individual described as having high functioning autism could have any of them. Classic autism is differentiated from Asperger's syndrome by the presence of language and speech delays. A child with Asperger's will show typical language development; one with autism will not. A third common diagnosis is Pervasive Developmental Disorder–Not Otherwise Specified. This is a common diagnosis for a child that meets some, but not all of the criteria for an Asperger's or autism diagnosis. Individuals with any of these neurological conditions may be very affected by them or fairly minimally so.
Social Skills
Disorders on the autism spectrum are primarily social disorders. Individuals may not understand social cues, may interpret conversations and speech in a very literal way, and have a poor understanding of facial expressions and body language. Understanding the perspective of others may be especially difficult. Social skills may have to be directly taught using modeling and social stories.
Sensory Processing
Sensory processing difficulties are a common symptom of autism spectrum disorders. Individuals may perceive sensory input differently and can be either hypersensitive to input or hyposensitive to sensory stimuli. For a hypersensitive individual, light, sound and movement may be uncomfortable. A hyposensitive individual may speak loudly, enjoy loud music, explore the world through touch and seek stronger sensory input.
Physical Symptoms
Certain physical symptoms are relatively common in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Gut and intestinal issues and seizure disorders occur with a higher frequency in children and adults on the autism spectrum. Mental illness and learning challenges are also linked to autism spectrum disorders; however, it should be noted that many, many individuals with autism, PDD-NOS or Asperger's syndrome are of normal or above normal intelligence.
Language
Unusual language, language delays and abnormal language development are all common symptoms of autism spectrum disorders. Those with high functioning autism typically show limited language difficulty; however, they may use minimal slang, have unusual speech patterns or choose to avoid verbal interaction. A flat, monotone intonation is not uncommon.
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