Have you heard about high-functioning and low-functioning autism?
What exactly are high-functioning and low-functioning autism? There is a tendency to label and classify children in this way.
Understanding "High-Functioning"
When we say high-functioning, it sometimes means that the child might have slightly better skills in areas like academics or speech. That doesn’t mean they are high-functioning in every aspect. A child we call high-functioning because they perform well at school may still be low-functioning in their home environment.
Understanding "Low-Functioning"
When we say low-functioning children, it often refers to those who need assistance in their day-to-day activities, or who are non-verbal and have not yet developed social behaviors — but labeling them this way is still not a good practice. Even children who are considered low-functioning, or non-verbal, may have excellent understanding abilities and strong memory skills.
Focusing on Abilities, Not Labels
Children with autism should always be understood by considering both their strengths and challenges equally. A child with autism, just like any other person, will have both strengths and weaknesses.
When we talk about a child with autism, the main thing we should focus on is their abilities — sometimes the child may be a visual learner, or a verbal or non-verbal learner. What we should prioritize is recognizing their abilities and the kind of assistance they need.