Why High functioning autism is so challenging
Extreme sensory issues. People at the higher end of the spectrum are just as susceptible as people in the middle or lower end of the spectrum to sensory dysfunctions. These include mild, moderate, or extreme sensitivity to noise, crowds, bright lights, strong tastes, smells, and touch. This means that a person who is bright, verbal, and capable may be unable to walk into a crowded restaurant, attend a movie, or cope with the sensory assaults associated with malls, stadiums, or other venues.
Social cluelessness. Whats the difference between a civil greeting and a signal of romantic interest? How loud is too loud? When is okay to talk about your personal issues or interests? When is it important to stop doing what you enjoy in order to attend to another persons needs?
These are tough questions for anyone, but for a person on the high end of the autism spectrum they can become overwhelming obstacles to social connections, employment, and romance.
Anxiety and depression. Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders are more common among people with high functioning autism than they are among the general population. We dont know whether the autism causes the mood disorders, or whether the disorders are the result of social rejection and frustration - -but whatever their causes, mood disorders can be disabling in themselves.
Lack of executive planning skills. Executive functioning describes the skills we use to organize and plan our lives. They allow typical adults to plan schedules in advance, notice that the shampoo is running low, or create and follow a timeline in order to complete a long term project.
Most people with high functioning autism have compromised executive functioning skills, making it very tough to plan and manage a household, cope with minor schedule changes at school or at work, and so forth.
Emotional disregulation. Contrary to popular opinion, people with autism have plenty of emotions. In fact, people with autism can become far too emotional in the wrong situations.
Imagine a sixteen year old bursting into tears because of a change in plans, or a grown woman melting down completely because her car wont start. These are the types of issues that can arise for people with high functioning autism, who are capable of doing a great many thing ONLY when the situation is predictable, and no obstacles arise.
Difficulty with transitions and change. Lots of people have a hard time with change -- but people with high functioning autism take the issue to a whole new level. Once a pattern is established and comfortable, people with autism (by and large) want to maintain that pattern forever. If a group of friends goes out on Wednesdays for nachos, the idea of going out on Thursdays for chicken wings can throw an autistic adult into a state of anxiety or even anger.
Difficulty with following verbal communication. A person with high functioning autism may be more than capable of doing a task -- but unable to follow the spoken instructions provided.
In other words, if a policeman says stay in your car and give me your license and registration, the person with autism may process only stay in your car, or only give me your license. The same goes for instructions given, say, at a ballroom dance class, at the doctors office, or by a manager in an office setting. As you can imagine, this can cause any number of issues, ranging from serious problems with the police to inadvertent mistakes at work.
As you can see, the term high functioning does mean what it says. But high functioning autism is not an easy or simply diagnosis to live with. For those caring for, employing, teaching, or working with people on the higher end of the spectrum, its important to remember that autism is autism.
Source: verywell.com
