What Is ‘High-Functioning Autism’?

Written by Beth Roybal
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on August 04, 2025
8 min read

“High-functioning autism” isn’t an official medical term or diagnosis. It’s an informal term some people use when they talk about people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This usually means people on this end of the autism spectrum can speak, read, write, and handle basic life skills such as eating and getting dressed. But having these abilities doesn’t necessarily mean that their autism symptoms don’t seriously affect their lives.

Why is the term ‘high-functioning autism’ controversial?

Making assumptions about someone’s needs based on a label isn’t always helpful. Not everyone with autism is the same. Using the “high-functioning autism” label can hurt someone’s feelings or even offend them. Instead, many autistic people use the terms “low support needs” and “high support needs” to describe where they fall on the spectrum. Someone with low support needs may not need a lot of day-to-day help. But someone with high support needs might need help with daily activities.

There are three levels of autism severity: 

  • Level 1: You may need support. 
  • Level 2: You may need more substantial support.
  • Level 3: You need lots of substantial support.

But the words we use to talk about neurodiversity and conditions like autism are constantly changing. Many people with ASD prefer identity-first language, such as saying someone is “an autistic person.” This is different from person-first language, in which you’d say they’re “a person with autism.”

ASD is a developmental brain condition that affects how you communicate and learn. Many autistic people can live independently. Other people on the autism spectrum have symptoms that affect their ability to take care of themselves.

For a long time, only people with very severe symptoms were diagnosed with autism. Starting in the 1990s, milder forms were recognized, including Asperger’s syndrome.

In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association grouped all autism-related disorders as ASD.

Still, you may hear some people who aren’t doctors continue to use terms like Asperger’s. It may be that they’re not familiar with the spectrum, or they may be referring to a diagnosis made before the conditions were renamed ASD.

What is Asperger’s syndrome?

Lorna Wing, a British psychiatrist, introduced the term to autism researchers in the 1980s. The term Asperger’s syndrome is a reference to Viennese psychologist Hans Asperger, who studied differences in autistic children in the ’40s. During the Holocaust, Asperger worked with the Nazis. His work and description of kids with autism led to the murder of children at a Nazi euthanasia clinic. For that reason, and because autism is now understood to happen on a spectrum, the term “Asperger’s” is no longer used as a diagnostic term.

If you have low support needs (high-functioning autism), you may have symptoms such as:

  • Not making direct eye contact
  • Having a hard time making friends (or preferring to be alone)
  • Not understanding social “rules” or norms
  • Keeping the same routine every day and feeling anxious during unexpected changes
  • Trouble communicating, such as expressing your thoughts or feelings clearly 
  • Not understanding sarcasm or idioms
  • Feeling nervous in social situations

In children younger than 3 years, high-functioning autism symptoms can include:

  • Not responding when you call their name
  • Disliking signs of affection, such as hugs and kisses
  • Wanting to play alone 
  • Not sharing or showing others things they’re interested in 

Older kids may have trouble carrying on a conversation. It may be difficult for them to read other people’s body language, too.

Doctors use many tools to diagnose ASD, but there is no single test that can tell you whether you or your child has it. For children, doctors will usually look at a child’s development and behavior through time.

A doctor can find traits of ASD in children aged 18 months or younger. By the time a child is 2 years old, an expert will usually be able to make a formal diagnosis. But sometimes, people get a diagnosis much later. They might find that they have high-functioning autism as an older child, a teenager, or an adult. 

There are three main parts to the diagnosis process for ASD:

Developmental monitoring. As the child grows, parents and doctors will watch to see if they show the usual signs and skills of development for their age. During wellness checkups, their doctor might ask you about your child’s development. They may also interact with your child to understand their level of development.

Developmental screening. This takes an even deeper look at how a child is developing. This is a normal part of all wellness checkups. Experts recommend that children get developmental and behavioral screenings at 9 months, 18 months, and 30 months of age. They also suggest that they get specific ASD screenings during their wellness checkups at 18 months and 24 months.

Your doctor might suggest screenings for your child at other times if there’s a concern. These screenings will focus on your child’s: 

  • Movement
  • Thinking skills
  • Behaviors
  • Emotions
  • Language

Developmental diagnosis. Your doctor will give your child a test to help figure out if they show any areas of concern that might be related to ASD. If so, they’ll see a specialist. This may include a:

An expert may give your child a formal developmental evaluation. During this, a doctor may give your child another test, ask you questions, or have you finish a questionnaire to better understand your child’s strengths and areas they have trouble with. The results will help your doctor figure out if your child has a developmental condition.

High-functioning autism diagnosis in adults

For adults, the diagnosis for ASD is a little different. You’ll want to find an expert who is trained to analyze and diagnose older people. The way a doctor diagnoses each adult may be slightly different.

Most of the time, your doctor will ask you about your life. They may talk to you about how you interact with other people, if you have any repetitive behaviors, what your interests are, and if you struggle with anything.

They may also ask about how you were as a child. Some doctors may want to speak with one of your parents or siblings to get a better idea of what you were like as a kid.

You can find a test for ASD online. The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a screening tool that can help you find out if you have traits of autism. It was published in 2001 by Simon Baron-Cohen, PhD, a psychology professor and director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, England. While it can help you understand more about where you might be on the spectrum, Baron-Cohen doesn’t suggest using the test to make an official diagnosis.

Autism used to be considered a rare condition, but the CDC states that about 1 in every 31 children have autism spectrum disorder. ASD cases have continued to rise each year.

The rise may be because doctors have better screening tools and awareness of the condition. Some experts think it also has to do with many different genetic and environmental factors. Research to understand what causes ASD and why it’s on the rise continues.

Studies have found that young adults with ASD are most likely to choose a STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine) major over others. They’re also more likely to choose these majors compared to people without ASD or those with a different disability.

Children with ASD and average IQ levels also tend to have better math skills than kids without ASD in the same IQ range. Experts think this is because people with ASD have special organizational patterns and skills that tend to make them great at problem-solving.

But people with ASD also have lower rates of college enrollment and participation. Some studies say 4 in 10 people with autism ever attend college, if not fewer.

Unemployment rates for people with ASD are also very high. In 2021, 85% of adults with the condition were unemployed.

People with high-functioning autism tend to face barriers while applying for jobs. ASD can affect your social skills, your ability to communicate, and how you manage your behaviors and reactions. This can have a big impact on the job interview process. Autistic adults are more likely to face stigma from employers and coworkers, too.

A person may have all of the skills for a job. But if they lack conversation skills during an interview, the hiring manager might form a bias against them. While some interviewers might not even realize they’ve done this, it can greatly affect a person’s ability to get a job.

If you have autism, think about your needs and interests when job hunting. For example, if you know you don’t like working in an office, explore jobs in another environment, like outdoor or remote opportunities.

You can also ask for reasonable accommodations at both work and school to make life easier. Examples of accommodations that may help include things such as: 

  • Wearing noise-cancelling headsets or earbuds for noise sensitivity 

  • Alternative lighting — including shades, non-fluorescent lighting, and window tints — if you’re sensitive to bright lights

  • Extra time to complete tasks

  • Written and verbal instruction, depending on your needs

The term “high-functioning autism” is an informal label that some use to describe autistic people with low support needs. It’s not an official diagnosis, and it can be offensive and misleading. In general, autistic people with low support needs can go to school, work, and live independently without much outside help.

Here are some commonly asked questions about high-functioning autism.

What’s the difference between high-functioning autism and autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder is a medical condition and diagnosis, whereas “high-functioning autism” is an informal label that some people use to describe those on the spectrum who have fewer support needs.

Can you diagnose high-functioning autism yourself?

Since “high-functioning autism” isn’t an official diagnosis, an autistic person with low support needs would be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Only a doctor can diagnose you with ASD. Still, you can use the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a screening tool, to find out if you have traits of autism.

Is high-functioning autism similar to Asperger’s? 

Asperger’s is an outdated term for autistic people who didn’t have a learning disability diagnosis. The majority of people who were diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in the past are described as “high-functioning,” low support, or level 1 ASD.