High Functioning Autism Symptoms

High functioning autism symptoms are very difficult from what most people may associate with autistic disorders. Individuals with high functioning autism may not have language development delays. They also often have average or above average intelligence levels. This is one of the common reasons this form of autism is often under diagnosed.

Use an autism behavior checklist to learn more.

The term "high functioning" relates to the skills these individuals have that may allow them to lead independent lives. The diagnosis of autism in these individuals is directly related to behaviors, social settings and other areas similar to other autistic disorders. The symptoms of high functioning autistic disorders may include a wide range of features.

• Delay development in motor skill development
• Obsessive interest in specific information or in a specific object
• Lack the skill to interact with other people socially
• Difficulty understanding abstract use of language, human is misunderstood, as is give-and-take in a conversation
• Expresses strong reactions to textures or smells, and may express reactions to stimuli that other people do not notice. A flickering light may cause an intense reaction, for example.

Children and adults with higher functioning autistic disorders, including Asperger's syndrome, typically want to interact with other people. This appears to be unlike other forms of autism. The difficulty for those with high functioning autism is that they do not understand how to be involved with others in a proper manner. Other signs exist as well.

• They may not understand another person's emotions.
• They may be unable to read facial expressions well.
• They may not understand body gestures or body language.
• They are often teased and do not realize what is occurring.
• Social isolation is a common side effect, which can lead to anxiety and depression in some children and adults.

Due to the misunderstanding of what autism is, many people may not realize their child has a high functioning form of autism. Some symptoms commonly associated with autism are not present in Asperger's syndrome or higher functioning pervasive developmental disorders.

• They do not have any physical or outward appearance of having a disorder.
• They may be are able to perform many physical tasks without trouble.
• They do not appear to have speech impediments or delays in development, though they may not be able to communicate on all topics well.
• They may react appropriately when others touch them or interact with them physically, unless the behavior confuses them.
• They do not have significant cognitive delays. In other words, they are often very smart people who are able to do well in schools academically.

There are various degrees of high functioning pervasive developmental disorders. Autism itself is a spectrum disorder, which means there is a full spectrum of levels. Some individuals with autism display remarkably normal behavior while others struggle with relatively minor emotions and social interactions.

High functioning symptoms may lead parents to visit a specialist to determine if they are autistic. The diagnosis of the condition is not often done right away, especially when compared to children with more severe forms of autism. Symptoms are rarely noticeable in babies and toddlers. It is common for mild autism to be diagnosed after a child has entered school.

A doctor uses are several criteria to determine if a child does in fact have autism, and to what level.

• Social Interaction: Social interaction symptoms will be a first indication. A lack of eye contact and the inability to understand how someone is feeling are common examples of symptoms a doctor is looking for.

• Verbal Communication: Symptoms of verbal and nonverbal communication are typically part of the diagnosis. Doctors are looking for symptoms such as not speaking or those who may repeat phrases many times.

• Interests: Obsessions with a particular topic or object can also be symptoms doctors are looking for. Specifically, they want to know what types of activities, objects or even specialized information the individual has. Obsessive interest in particular areas can be a symptom.

To gather this information, doctors use a combination of testing methods including psychological testing, observations, history of development and interviews with parents and teachers. If a multitude of symptoms exists, a diagnosis may be made.

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• Category:Diagnosing Autism
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