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It used to be that autism was diagnosed as a general condition but over time there has been a lot of research and autism has been found to have a large spectrum, that it is not just one disorder, but a category that includes many disorders, among them is high functioning autism.
So, what is high functioning autism? This type of autism means a child only experiences mild forms of the condition. For instance, he may only have small social impairments. People who suffer from high functioning autism are able to communicate, and do other normal functions. Sometimes high function autism can even be diagnosed as Aspergers Syndrome or even at times as Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Children who suffer from high functioning autism will have only some problems when trying to communicate with others, you may also distinguish the disorder by small movements and kids will want a certain routine and feel lost without it.
When your child is diagnosed with autism it may seem as if the world has come to an end, but there are actually some advantages to high functioning autism, and many of the symptoms can be reversed, or minimized allowing your child to live a normal life. If you notice any of the symptoms, it is extremely important that you get help immediately. A pediatric neurologist and a child psychologist can give you the techniques that you can use to train and treat your child’s symptoms.
Research has shown that there are certain therapies that will allow your child to have a normal life. This therapy will teach them how to interact socially, learn communication skills, and control their motor behavior. Some Doctors may prescribe medications to control the child’s anxiety and hyperactivity while he is learning. This is why it is so important to seek help from specialists in the field.
The medical field diagnoses a child with high functioning autism when the condition is present but the symptoms are not severe. Most of these children have the same intelligence as others, and in some cases even higher. They have an adequate vocabulary but their learning comprehension is sometimes behind others. People with high functioning autism wont express very much detail and aren’t very emotional. The have a hard time interpreting body language and non verbal instruction.
Be careful that your doctor does not confuse high functioning autism with Asperger’s Syndrome. Many doctors tend to differ in their definitions and these are not the same condition, although many of the symptoms are similar. These conditions need to be treated differently.
There really isn’t a defined area that suggests your child has autism or high functioning autism. Some doctors use IQ tests to help them with the diagnosis, but there are other key elements too, like the use of language, and the way a child behaves, even non verbal details need to be taken into account to determine the level of autism the child has. The IQ test cannot be used definitively because there are many elements on the test that autistic children struggle with. So the key is in finding the right doctor and psychological help for your child and that may mean consulting with several specialists in the field.
