What is functional autism?

Question

In a lot of posts from users in the US, I see people mentioning being on a spectrum and being functional autistic. How is that diagnosed and what it is? I am asking because in my country autism diagnosis is given to people who are unable to properly function on their own, and in some posts I see that the symptoms some describe are e.g. “not caring about what people say” , “getting distracted easily” etc,.

In: 3

Answer 1

Sounds like in your country they only go with the old diagnosis of autism, which was the severe form. It used to be thought this was the only form of it.

However, it’s now recognised that it’s a spectrum, so there are milder forms. Hence it is now called “Autism spectrum disorder” or “autism spectrum condition”

It’s likely helpful to know the definition of autism:
1. Difficulties in integration and social communication
AND
2. Restrictive interests and repetitive behaviour

Until recently we called the mildest form “Asperger’s syndrome”. Clinically it’s not used anymore as the cut off for its definition was a grey area. It’s probably this type of range that people mean by “functional autism”. They don’t have any associated learning disability and able to live and function independently. There are lots of people who have functional autism. It’s often diagnosed later than the traditional type, often in adolescence or adulthood. And many don’t get diagnosed (for some who fall in this category they would not benefit from a diagnosis, while others would)

As for the latter part of you question about people describing symptoms; “not caring about what people say” could reflect their difficulties with social communication, they are unable/struggle to express their own feelings in response to what has been said.

As for the “easily distracted”. There are at least two things that this could reflect. One is that if their particular subject or activity of interest is available in there vicinity, they will repeatedly try to go do that (eg one of my friend’s kid’s, who is at the milder end of the spectrum, is obsessed with drawing. They need to keep stationary and drawing stuff out of sight for her to concentrate properly on something else). The other thing is that ADHD is more common in people with autism, so many will have symptoms of that too