High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Autism Symptoms In Adults At Work

Symptoms of ASD vary greatly from person to person based on the severity of the condition. These or similar manifestations of ASD may be apparent at work:

• When youre having a conversation with your boss, you prefer to look at the wall, her shoes, or anywhere but directly into her eyes.
• Your co-workers say that you speak like a robot.
• Each item on your desk has a special place, and you dont like when the cleaning company rearranges it to dust.
• You are really good at math, or software coding, but struggle to succeed in other areas.
• You talk to your co-workers the same way you talk with your family and friends.
• During meetings, you find yourself making involuntary noises, like clearing your throat over and over.
• When talking with your boss, you have difficulty telling if he is happy with your performance or mad at you.

In addition, autistic individuals may exhibit extraordinary talents in visual skills, music, math, and art. And roughly 40 percent of autistic individuals have average or above-average intelligence.

If you experience these or similar symptoms of ASD, consult a doctor or mental-health professional for a formal autism evaluation and learn more about treatment options for autism symptoms in adults.

Treatment For Autism In Little Rock

If you or your childs doctor are concerned about the presence of any of these symptoms or your child has been diagnosed with autism, Integrity, Inc. can help you find support services for children experiencing autism in Little Rock. Visit Integrity Inc. online or call us at 406-0442 to learn more. We can provide information about what autism is and how your child can lead a normal life.

Level Of Cognitive Functioning

It is often believed that neither AS or HFA can occur in children with IQs below 65-70, but unfortunately, that is not always the case for children diagnosed with AS. Children can be diagnosed with AS and still struggle with other cognitive impairments not directly related to autism, such as dyslexia. On the other hand, HFA is typically present in children with IQs that are average to above average. Cognitive impairments are not associated with HFA.

Even though there are differences between AS and HFA, children on the spectrum who have either diagnosis share some challenges, including being more prone to anxiety and depression, especially during early teen years. Early intervention is key. A diagnosis of autism can be very different from one child to another, and many children fall through the cracks with diagnoses like AS and HFA, because these children appear to fit typical norms, aside from a few social quirks.

Understanding the differences and similarities between the two diagnoses will help doctors and specialists provide the correct interventions. Seeking help as soon as possible is the best way to ensure success for children with special needs, and having the right diagnosis and the right information allows parents to better advocate for their children. Every child deserves equal opportunity to feel safe and comfortable in their environment, and obtaining the right diagnosis is the first step.

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The Challenges Of Living With High

• Frequently Asked Questions

Autism is a spectrum disorder. This means people with autism have a wide range of symptoms and abilities. High-functioning autism is often considered mild, but that’s not necessarily true.

People with HFA can struggle significantly. They may not need the same level of support as people with more severe autism. However, it can still have a major impact on their daily lives.

This article discusses the common challenges of living with high-functioning autism.

Research Into Positive Traits

Possible positive traits of ADHD are a new avenue of research, and therefore limited. Studies are being done on whether ADHD symptoms could potentially be beneficial.

A 2020 review found that creativity may be associated with ADHD symptoms, particularly and quantity of creative achievements, but not with the disorder of ADHD itself â i.e. it has not been found to be increased in patients diagnosed with the disorder, only in patients with subclinical symptoms or those that possess traits associated with the disorder. Divergent thinking is the ability to produce creative solutions which differ significantly from each other and consider the issue from multiple perspectives. Those with ADHD symptoms could be advantaged in this form of creativity as they tend to have diffuse attention, allowing rapid switching between aspects of the task under consideration flexible , allowing them to remember and use more distantly-related ideas which is associated with creativity and impulsivity, which causes people with ADHD symptoms to consider ideas which others may not have. However, people with ADHD may struggle with , which is a cognitive process through which a set of obviously relevant knowledge is utilized in a focused effort to arrive at a single perceived best solution to a problem.

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Hfa Vs Asperger’s Syndrome

Until 2013, many people who might be said to have high-functioning autism were diagnosed with either Asperger’s syndrome or PDD-NOS .

But, there are differences that set those two diagnoses apart:

• Asperger’s syndrome was a distinct diagnosis which described a person of average or higher-than-average intelligence and age-appropriate language skills who also had significant social and communication challenges.
• PDD-NOS was a catch-all diagnosis. Often understood to mean the same thing as “high-functioning autistic,” it really incorporated individuals at all functional levels whose symptoms didn’t fully correlate with classic autism.

Perhaps more significantly, people with Asperger’s syndrome often had different symptoms than people with higher IQs and autism. For example, anxiety was often a symptom of Asperger’s syndrome but not one shared by everyone who might be described as having HFA.

As of 2013, with the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition , neither PDD-NOS nor Asperger’s syndrome is an official diagnostic category in the United States. Both are now included under the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder . Those on the higher-functioning end of the spectrum are said to have “Level 1 ASD.”

Some People Use Other Names For Autism

There are other names for autism used by some people, such as:

• autism spectrum disorder the medical name for autism
• autism spectrum condition used instead of ASD by some people
• Aspergers used by some people to describe autistic people with average or above average intelligence

Unlike some people with autism, people with Aspergers do not have a learning disability.

Some people call this high-functioning autism.

Doctors do not diagnose people with Aspergers anymore.

But if you were diagnosed with it before, this will stay as your diagnosis.

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Challenges And 4 Strengths In High

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by the presence and degree of symptoms that affect how a person communicates, interacts with others, learns, and engages in repetitive and restricted behaviors. The 2020 Community Report on Autism, funded by the CDC, found that 1 in 54 children were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2016, which is an increase from the 1 in 59 cases found in previous years.

Children and adults with more severe ASD usually have intellectual impairments and difficulty functioning independently. Those on the other end of the spectrumhigh-functioning autism , which used to be referred to as Aspergers syndrometend to have milder symptoms. As children, they may be integrated into some mainstream classes at school, and into the workforce as adults.

Most cases of ASD are diagnosed around age 3 when certain milestones, such as speech and social development, havent been met or have regressed. However, with HFA, research has found that most are diagnosed later in childhood, between the ages of 7 and 9. While it is often thought that the greater awareness about ASD we now have contributes to early detection, decades ago that was not the case. At that time, the kids and adults with HFA might have just been thought of as quirky, awkward, or eccentricbut now we know so much more.

Passionately Resistant To Change

Similar to #6, children with high-functioning autism can violently resist change. For example, a child with ASD may require the same cereal every morning or only eat cereal with O shapes. Thats all fine and dandy until youre staying in a hotel and realize you didnt bring a box with you and dont have quick access to a store at breakfast time.

In this scenario, the individuals reaction can range from strong violent outbursts or tantrums to a complete refusal to eat at all until the proper cereal is provided. So you can see how a family on a camping trip that didnt bring the O cereal is in a very challenging spot. It can be crippling at some times and debilitating or downright scary at others.

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Is Calling An Autistic Person High

Diagnosing a child with autism as high-functioning is thought of as offensive within the autistic community because of the implication that other people on the spectrum are low-functioning, but it has also been proven time and again to not be a useful diagnosis.

Theres no biomarker for different types of autism , so a label of high or low functioning is not based on any test or scientific evidence. This is why doctors and therapists, for the most part, do not use high-functioning autism as a diagnosis its simply not accurate.

Difficulty Communicating And Awkward Communication

ASD can have a big impact on the development of your social skills. As a result, you may find some aspects of communication challenges.

Signs that someone is finding it difficult to communicate include:

• Difficulty reading social cues and participating in conversations
• Difficulty empathizing with other peoples thoughts and feelings
• Struggling to read peoples body language or facial expressions
• Using a flat, robotic, or monotone tone of voice that doesnt communicate feelings accurately
• Making up descriptive words or phrases
• Difficulty understanding particular phrases or metaphors
• Difficulty making or maintaining eye contact

Often, if you have high-functioning autism, you will be able to hold a conversation about topics that youre particularly interested in. However, you may find it difficult to switch topics suddenly or to keep up with spontaneous changes in conversation.

This can mean that you find it difficult to build and maintain friendships. That said, you may have some close long-term friendships that accommodate your communication needs. You will generally find it easier to communicate with people you have known for a long time and therefore understand better.

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Assessment Of Autistic Symptoms

The ABC is a checklist of non-adaptive behaviors47 that consists of 57 items in 5 areas of categories, including problems related to Sensory , Relating , Body concept , Language and Social self-help .48 ABC items were rated as yes or no for each question during the assessment. ABC was well-established instruments for the screening and diagnosis of childhood autism.49 It has been widely used in clinical and scientific research, now being one of the most mature rating scales for domestic use.50

Difficulty Regulating Your Emotions Or Behavior

Emotional regulation or ER is an important part of daily life. This enables us to react to situations, changes, or emotional disturbances in a controlled way. This is something that we do automatically.

However, studies show that people with ASD struggle with emotional regulation. This may be because their ER skills do not develop over time, as most people do.

This can result in sudden or intense mood swings and difficulty responding to emotional situations. As a result, you may have outbursts or meltdowns to small changes in routines. Often these will seem disproportionate to their trigger

Difficulty with ER can also mean that you struggle to regulate dangerous or impulsive behavior. This might mean that you lash out when feeling intense emotions. It also makes addictive behaviors common in people who are living with high functioning autism.

Difficulty emotionally regulating can have a huge impact on your mental health and can impact your social skills. This makes it one of the biggest challenges of high functioning autism.

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Intense Feelings About Certain Sensory Experiences

Another big challenge for people with autism is their sensory processing power. This means that some sensory experiences will be disturbing while others can be soothing. These experiences can include exposure to:

This can be very specific to the individual. For example, you might find some smells or textures very soothing, while another person would hate them.

However, managing sensory overload is a common theme. Too much sensory input can be disruptive for anyone with autism. For example, you might find it overwhelming being in a crowded station or at a music concert.

This can cause serious emotional distress or a full-blown meltdown. As a result, you may find that you avoid certain situations or find other ways to accommodate them. For example, you may listen to music or wear sunglasses to limit your sensory input.

Fear of sensory overload can also result in social anxiety. This may mean that you avoid social situations altogether.

Mirror Neuron System Theory

The theory hypothesizes that alterations to the development of the MNS interfere with and lead to Asperger’s core feature of social impairment. One study found that activation is delayed in the core circuit for imitation in individuals with AS. This theory maps well to theories like the , which hypothesizes that autistic behavior arises from impairments in ascribing mental states to oneself and others or , which hypothesizes that autistic individuals can systematize internal operation to handle internal events but are less effective at when handling events generated by other agents.

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What Should I Do If My Child Has Delayed Milestones

Talk to your child specialist about your concerns. While it is normal for every child to achieve milestones at their own pace, you must always be on the lookout for red flags. If the child does not smile, coo, speak, react to your affections by hugging back, or have eye contact, you must consult your doctor.

You must specifically monitor your childs growth and development if

• You were on medications like Thalidomide, Valproic acid, or antipsychotic medicines during your pregnancy.
• You or your spouse was in your late 30s when you conceived .
• You have a family member with autism.
• You suffered from viral infections during your pregnancy.
• Your baby had a low birth weight.

Always remember:

Wait and watch policy will not help a child with an autistic spectrum disorder. In fact, from 1 to 2 years of age, the brain is still developing. If the therapy is started at this point, most symptoms of autism can be worked upon. Though, currently, autism is not curable, early intervention during the preschool years can help the child manage the behavioral issues and teach them to cope better in social situations. Behavioral therapy involves teaching parents to reach out to their children. Children suffering from hyperactivity, convulsions, and sleep problems also need early medical management.

Is There A Difference Between Autism And Aspergers

One of the biggest differences between autism and what was once called Aspergers is its milder symptoms and inability to delay language.While most children with Aspergers show good language skills and may have been diagnosed previously, those who are more recently diagnosed may also show difficulties in ation in has good language skills but may have difficulty fitting in with their peers.

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How Are Asd Levels Determined

While its difficult to determine a persons ASD level, trained psychologists have some tools that can help them accomplish this, such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition . This assessment is typically paired with a thorough developmental history.

ASD can be diagnosed as early as 18 months . However, many children, and even some adults, may not be diagnosed until much later.

Being diagnosed at a later age can make support more difficult. If you or your childs pediatrician think they may be autistic, consider making an appointment with an ASD specialist. Learn more about testing for ASD.

What Does It Mean To Have High

It isnt true that high-functioning autism is an officially accepted diagnosis.In their everyday lives, they are often very reliant on their mental skills and often need quite a bit of assistance.Learning to interact socially as well as speaking requires being able to develop an unusually wide set of abilities.

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Restricted Behavior And Play

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are often restricted, rigid, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests. Symptoms may include:

• Repetitive body movements moving constantly.
• Obsessive attachment to unusual objects .
• Preoccupation with a narrow topic of interest, sometimes involving numbers or symbols .
• A strong need for sameness, order, and routines . Gets upset by change in their routine or environment.
• Clumsiness, atypical posture, or odd ways of moving.
• Fascinated by spinning objects, moving pieces, or parts of toys .
• Hyper- or hypo-reactive to sensory input .

Signs And Symptoms Of High Functioning Autism

1. Repetitiveness

HFA is partly characterized by anobsession with a particular subject or activity. If you have noticed your child cannot get enough of a particular subject, it could be more than just a normal childhood love for dinosaurs or dogs.

The obsession can be positive in that it improves your childs understanding of a particular academic subject or art. The increased interest in a specific field and subsequent excellence in the area has led to many scientific and mathematical inventions. Additionally, it can be a means of finding similarly minded children to encourage social engagement and activities.

However, these obsessions can cause a negative impact as well. If the obsession is interfering with social interactions or quality of life, support services can help them use their ability to hyperfocus in more effective ways.

2. Emotional sensitivity

Individuals living with High Functioning Autism are also prone to high levels of emotional sensitivity. Slight provocations such as your use of language, noise, or even competition from siblings can ruin the whole day.

Insufficient autism awareness coupled with the fact that High Functioning Autism is challenging to detect can make many children suffer extreme emotional sensitivity. This can also lead to intense sorrow and isolation after a trauma.

If your child is easily angered by small things and unable to let it go, it may be time to see a doctor.

3. Social problems

4. Language peculiarities

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