The terms "low-functioning" or "high-function

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How do you feel about these terms? Are you comfortable with one or either of these terms being used to describe you? Anything about them that would be uncomfortable? Is there another term you prefer that means the same thing?

I've always wondered that myself; is there a better name for it, because it sounds either deficient on one side or spaced out on the other. How about identifying which side of the spectrum, as left and right, blue and red, something like that.

Aspergers is synonymous with high functioning Autism (at least according to Tony Attwood)

I don't really care for functioning labels. I also don't like to be told by anyone but a doctor how well I seem to be able to function.

I like I-functioning.

Our education systems seem to "need" to define a person as either low- or high-functioning.

I think it's absolutely a political statement for a person to define himself or herself as middle-functioning.

Nobody likes being shoved into a category, and it's such a big spectrum that it's more complex than just high, mid, and low functioning. Having said that, I think it's the best possible system of classification.

"Asperger's" is a term that just needs to die. It sounds ridiculous, it means practically the same thing as HFA, and it's becoming a cultural byword for "annoying nerd."

I know that if I do have Asperger's Syndrome, which I'm quite confident that I do have it, I know that I would be high functioning. In a way it does kind of sound degrading because if you were classified as low functioning, how would you feel? Would that lower your self-confidence? I don't know what other term they could use though.

I agree, I think we should just use on the autism spectrum for everybody and autism.

My ability to function in society changes day by day, and is dependent on my circumstances and the amount of stress I am experiencing. If I am engaged in social activity with some degree of success all day on Monday, and then lock myself in my bedroom with my headphones on to avoid social interaction on Tuesday, which am I?

Maybe the labels are far too overarching and broad. Maybe we should be labeled by what we can do instead (verbal, lives independently, non-verbal, writer, visual artist, mechanic).

I disagree. There should be a way to differentiate between those that are mildly affected and can function more or less normally (they wouldn't know they were an aspie unless [self-]diagnosed) and those that require ear defenders and have a sign stating they're autistic when they go out in public.

Even the proposed updated manual has different levels of autism.

Yeah. Like I said, nobody likes labels, but the high, mid, and low functioning system is a simple way of getting across, quickly and easily, an estimate of your severity. It's sort of like movie critics with the four-star system – one is terrible, two is mediocre, three is good, and four is great. It's obviously much more complex than that, but it's the best way of quickly informing someone of how good the movie is. You may not enjoy personally labeling yourself high, mid, or low functioning, but if a psychologist asked you to pick the one you're closest to, you'd probably be able to do that. Classifying everyone on the spectrum as "autistic" isn't going to work.

I get annoyed with the use of functioning labels. Uneven skill sets are very common on the autism spectrum...the most notable cases being highly intelligent, articulate non-speaking individuals who come across as "unaware" or of low intelligence. Just because you excel at one particular skill set doesn't necessarily mean that you'll succeed at a wide range of skill sets.

The official terminology is based on IQ:

Less than a set number; LFA
Higher than a set number; HFA

That's all. Researchers first used the term, and that was for studies to separate groups based on IQ scores.

The official levels in the DSM are mild, moderate and severe, for all disorders.

That's an useful piece of information. I thought it meant how capable was an individual to interact with other people and society in general.

For me, well, I don't have a problem with the "high functioning" label, but those who get the other one might think otherwise.

We say high functioning and Aspergers because we do not want to be lumped in with the exaggerated image of Autism the media has created. The best way to fight ignorance is through awareness and education.

I prefer to just say I am Autistic/have Autism.