High Functioning Autism is a spectrum of neurodevelopment disorders that affects all areas of person's life from communication to behavior. Patients who have autistic disorder but whose IQ is normal are said to have high functioning autism, or HFA. Although there are numerous symptoms in autistic disorder, the hallmark features of autism include impaired social communication and language skills. Most of the HFA patients have problems in the same areas as patients with more severe autism. Thus, the main difference between people with more severe forms of autism and those with High Functioning Autism, is in the severity of their symptoms.
Communication
Whereas patients with lower level autism may choose to ignore people most of the time, those with HFA typically enjoy communicating with other people. Their communication style sets them apart from healthy individuals, though says Hye Kyeung Seung, Ph.D. in a study published in the "Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics Journal" in April 2007. Whereas a healthy person typically chooses a topic that he thinks might interest other people, a person with HFA only talks about topics that interests him. An obsession with a particular topic is a hallmark symptom of HFA. It is not uncommon for a patient with HFA to spend most of his time talking about one particular topic. According to a study by Dr. M. L. Spezio that was published in the "Journal of Autistic Developmental Disorders" in 2007, even people with HFA are likely to avoid eye contact. A person with HFA can also be overly trusting and often comes across as naive. It is also typical for a HFA patient to use communication mainly as a method of getting something from other people instead of simply enjoying their company.
Language Development
A person with within the low spectrum of autism either does not develop language at all, or the language development is severely delayed. A HFA patient, however, is unlikely to have severe delays in her language development although minor delays are possible says Lawrence D. Shriberg, Ph.D. and colleagues in a study published in the "Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research" in October 2001. She may have started speaking later than an average child, for example. Moreover, a person with HFA is likely to use the same sentences or words in her conversations over and over again and repeat other people's words. He may also find it difficult to interpret gestures or body language or to understand humor. Patient with FHA is also likely to have difficulties in pronunciation and stress patterns.
Repetitive Behavior and Intolerance towards Change
Repetitive Behavior and Intolerance towards Change Autistic people frequently engage themselves with self-injurious behaviors when they are upset or depressed. Such repetitive movements as rocking are also common. These kinds of symptoms seem to be more common in young children with autism and those in the low spectrum of autism than older or HFA patients as stated by Dr. Anna J. Esbensen and colleagues in a study published in the "Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders" in January of 2009. Nearly all autistic people love routines regardless of the severity of the condition. They do not tolerate changes in their housing, diet, clothing, or treatments. As the autistic person becomes older, he becomes more tolerant of such changes, however.
References
- "Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics Journal"; Linguistic Characteristics of Individuals with Highfunctioning Autism and AspergerSsyndrome; Hye Kyeung Seung; September 2006
- "Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research"; Speech and Prosody Characteristics of Adolescents and Adults With High-Functioning Autism; Lawrence D. Shriberg et al.; October 2001
- "Journal of Autistic Developmental Disorders"; Abnormal Use of Facial Information in High-Functioning Autism; Spezio ML, Adolphs R, Hurley RS, Piven J.; May 2007
- "Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders": Age-related Differences in Repetitive Behavior; Anna J. Esbensen et al.; January 2009
