Thread: Does anyone know anyone with High Functioning Autism?

What's High Functioning Autism?

Originally Posted by Thief

What's High Functioning Autism?

Autism is "a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old.[1] Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) also include the related conditions Asperger syndrome and PDD-NOS, which have fewer signs and symptoms.[2]"

Taken from wikipedia.

Basically it's a form of mental retardation, but limited at that. It basically makes social interactions (such as talking to people or making friends) different. High functioning autism is when someone has autism, but they can function easily in life, and are only held back by their autism in the slightest.

It's not like down syndrome, in which someone seems dumb or slower, but they just seem awkward, due to their inability to converse or be friendly. Autism is common.

Originally Posted by AmazeO XD

Autism is "a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old.[1] Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) also include the related conditions Asperger syndrome and PDD-NOS, which have fewer signs and symptoms.[2]"

Taken from wikipedia.

Basically it's a form of mental retardation, but limited at that. It basically makes social interactions (such as talking to people or making friends) different. High functioning autism is when someone has autism, but they can function easily in life, and are only held back by their autism in the slightest.

It's not like down syndrome, in which someone seems dumb or slower, but they just seem awkward, due to their inability to converse or be friendly. Autism is common.

So high functioning autism is more like a social disorder like social anxiety disorder than more sterotypical autism?

You could look at it that way.

Yeah my friend's sister has that. In fact she didn't know she was autistic at all until she went to college and did a ton of her own research.

She's completely "normal" except for really disliking being touched. And she's a little uncomfortable in certain social situations.

The only high-functioning autistic I know of is Christian Weston Chandler.

Originally Posted by AmazeO XD

You could look at it that way.

So, a person like that would essentially be like a normal person ie they have relationships, friends, girlfiriend, no one considers them to be retarted but just maybe a litle distant and reserved. Is that correct?

I have Asperger's Syndrome, a type of autism without the mental retardation that comes with it. A lot of people with it are completely socially incompetent, like one guy I go to school with. I'm one of the less socially retarded people, but I'm by no means a people person.

Do you think you have it or something? Describe some of the stuff that makes you think you do, if you do.

Originally Posted by Souperman22

I have Asperger's Syndrome, a type of autism without the mental retardation that comes with it. A lot of people with it are completely socially incompetent, like one guy I go to school with. I'm one of the less socially retarded people, but I'm by no means a people person.

Do you think you have it or something? Describe some of the stuff that makes you think you do, if you do.

Me? No i don't actually. In my younger years i had to go see a Pych and they ran some tests on me and found that im not even on the autism spectrum let alone autistic. I do however have General Anxiety Disorder and PTSD

My understanding of autism is very limited... I seem to recall that they absolutely CRAVE routine and order, they hate colors mixing (like peas and carrots on the same plate), they have a very hard time expressing (even recognizing?) emotions, don't like to be touched.
I view autistics as intelligent people who simply have the information trapped inside their mind and have a nearly impossible time expressing/explaining themselves.

I'll post a link tomorrow explaining why I think I have it.. I'm online using my psp right now, and typing takes aaaaggggeeesss.

Autism is like ADD and Depression. It's only another way for doctors to try to explain away people's differences with some "genetic disease". "It's okay that you're 'not like everyone else' we have medications and counseling to fix that right up"

Originally Posted by Lucky27

Autism is like ADD and Depression. It's only another way for doctors to try to explain away people's differences with some "genetic disease". "It's okay that you're 'not like everyone else' we have medications and counseling to fix that right up"

Did you just call depression a cop out? More so, did you just call it genetic?

Are you serious?

Depression is a serious emotional state. It has nothing to do with someone "being different." It's an extreme of emotions that can have very serious side effects, both Physical and Mental. Depression is in no way something that is just another method of categorization. If you had absolutely any experience with depression you'd understand that. Don't use your ignorance to spread misinformation.

On another note, brain disorders do exist whether you like it or not. Equating these conditions as cop outs is flat out ignorant. It's not a matter of "being different." It is, in fact, a matter of different development that can cause serious and even unknown effects.

It isn't a matter of making people like everyone else, but it is a matter of keeping them alive like everyone else so they can at least function and enjoy their life even when it is different.

When I was four years old, doctors thought I was autistic, and I was placed in special ed classes. However, after a year or so Mom realized I would do much better in regular classes, and worked hard to get me out of special ed. From 1st grade on...well, I proved her right

However, after reading this

Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

She's completely "normal" except for really disliking being touched. And she's a little uncomfortable in certain social situations.

I'm starting to wonder if I do indeed have high functioning autism, because that sounds very much like me. I don't really care either way, but it would be interesting to know.

I don't like being touched either but it's more an anxiety thing. I don't have autism in any way.
I even "blow hugs" to my kids more often than physically touching them because close proximity to others makes me extremely irritable and panicky.

There are often several explanations as to why we do the things we do. I don't think it requires attention unless it interfers with a persons quality of life. But I too often ask a lot of questions simply because I'm curious and like to know things

My husband is a highly educated man whose currently an Ophthalmologist. He doesn't believe in medicating depression and ADD ect. He just can't comprehend such things. But they do exist. I was diagnosed with mild RLS and talking about it will make him downright cranky lol. He says it's yet another created illness to put peoples minds at ease and for companies to get more money out of for medicine
If people don't have first hand experience with certain things it's hard for them to emphasize and understand.

Yes. He's just a little eccentric, though. He qoutes movie lines randomly and somewhat innapropriately, but people do that anyway. And he will start and leave conversations abruptly. But that's about it.

I'm supposed to be a high functioning autistic. I don't like being touched non-sexually, have to fight with myself to make eye contact and get very interested in various intellectual stuff. It's not all that bad once you figure out how to get over the social stuff....There is at least one study that shows that omega-3's help with it.