Signs and Symptoms of High- Functioning Autism

It is important that we do not overlook the signs and symptoms that individuals with Autism display. This may include how they interact with others, how tolerant they are to sensations or stimulations, and how they cope when feeling distressed.

Introduction

One may assume that having the ability to conduct oneself appropriately in social settings, manage day-to-day routines independently, and having no intellectual disabilities indicates that an individual is neurotypical. However, individuals with autism that require only low levels of support often go undiagnosed for many years while still fulfilling these basic needs.

Although they may be independent enough to navigate their daily lives, they still experience their unique symptoms and challenges that require some form of support. Hence, this article discusses the signs and symptoms that these individuals show.

Social Challenges

One sign these individuals may show is awkward or unnatural interactions. Individuals with autism are known to have social deficits, characterized by challenges in cognitive functioning and social skills to engage in meaningful interactions with others. However, autistic individuals requiring low support often possess the intelligence and language skills to engage in typical interactions with others (Rao et al., 2008).

Despite that, having cognitive functioning does not necessarily mean that they can easily interact with others, as they often still lack essential social skills, even with their ability to think and reason. As such, they may display poor non-verbal conversation skills or have uneven language development (NIDCD, 2020).

For example, they may be good at memorizing or picking up new information from conversations with others but lack conversational skills such as taking turns or staying on topic. This may lead to interactions that come across as strange to others.

Hence, having the cognitive ability to think or learn may not make up for the social impairment that these individuals face, which characterizes low-support needs Autism.

Sensory Sensitivities

Another sign that these individuals may show is abnormal reactions to sensory stimuli. Individuals with autism often have sensory sensitivities to external stimuli such as lights, sounds or textures. Even if their sensory challenges may not be as extreme as higher-support needs, they may still experience distress when being touched or exposed to certain scents.

The sensations and stimulations that others can easily ignore or tolerate may lead to overstimulation and sensory overload for these individuals, causing atypical reactions and perceptions (Minshew & Hobson, 2008).

Their responses can include avoiding interactions with specific sensations or stimulations, such as refusing to wear clothing made of certain materials or avoiding places with specific scents. This sensitivity can significantly impact their daily lives and interactions, further illustrating the challenges faced by individuals with low-support needs Autism.

Emotional Regulation

Another symptom that these individuals experience is difficulty in emotional regulation. Although individuals with low-support needs Autism can be emotionally aware, they still struggle with processing and expressing how they feel in social contexts. These struggles would often lead to meltdowns or dysregulation (Mazefsky & White, 2014).

For example, when they feel anxious or distressed about a situation, they may lack the ability to share their feelings with others, even when they know what they are feeling. The frustration from knowing their emotions but being able to convey them effectively can lead to meltdowns such as crying.

Despite this struggle, they are able to regulate themselves through generalizable means like breathing techniques and calming strategies. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the signs and symptoms that individuals with low support needs exhibit can be observed in their social interactions, sensory sensitivities and emotional regulation. While they may appear to be more capable of handling themselves, they still struggle with these areas and hence, require support from peers and family.

Arguably, these individuals may find it more emotionally draining to match up to what society expects of them since they appear more neurotypical. Therefore, it is equally important to note the kind of support they require so that these individuals do not fall into the cracks.

Written by: Fadilah

References

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Minshew, N. J., & Hobson, J. A. (2008). Sensory sensitivities and performance on sensory 

perceptual tasks in high-functioning individuals with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(8), 1485–1498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0528-4

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). (2020, April 

13). Autism spectrum disorder: Communication problems in children. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/autism-spectrum-disorder-communication-problems-children

Nilov, M. (Photographer). (2021, July 7). A man teaching a child [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-man-teaching-a-child-8653718/

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Asperger’s syndrome or high-functioning autism: A review and recommendations. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(2), 353–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0402-4