It used to be that autism was diagnosed as a general condition but over time there has been a lot of research and autism has been found to have a large spectrum, that it is not just one disorder, but a category that includes many disorders, among them is high functioning autism.
Lets define what high functioning autism is? When a person has this type of autism he may only have some symptoms of autism or very mild symptoms. He may only suffer from very mild social problems. These sufferers are able to speak and communicate and do most normal functions. The symptoms can often be confused with Aspergers Syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Children who suffer from high functioning autism will have only some problems when trying to communicate with others, you may also distinguish the disorder by small movements and kids will want a certain routine and feel lost without it.
When your child is diagnosed with autism it may seem as if the world has come to an end, but there are actually some advantages to high functioning autism, and many of the symptoms can be reversed, or minimized allowing your child to live a normal life. If you notice any of the symptoms, it is extremely important that you get help immediately. A pediatric neurologist and a child psychologist can give you the techniques that you can use to train and treat your child’s symptoms.
Don’t feel disheartened, there are certain therapy treatments that can bring normalcy back to your child’s life. This type of therapy will teach them how to control their motor behavior, interact socially, and teach them how to communicate with others. The therapy may mean a more individualized type of education, and certain behavior analysis. Some specialists may prescribe certain medications to control the child’s anxiety and his hyperactivity. This is why its important to look for help from specialists in the field.
High functioning autism is diagnosed when mild symptoms of the condition are present but these symptoms can be worked with and the child understands most of what is needed from him. These children are just as intelligent, and sometimes even more so than other children of the same age. They can express themselves adequately but sometimes there comprehension seems to fall behind others. They cannot express their emotional needs very will, and have a hard time understanding non verbal cues.
As a parent you need to be careful because high functioning autism is often confused with Asperger’s Syndrome. A lot of the information out there refers to both high functioning autism and Asperger’s as being the same. Although there are many symptoms that are similar, there is a difference and they need to be treated differently. Even doctors tend to differ in their definitions of the two.
There isn’t a set definition for what is high functioning autism and it is difficult for doctors to diagnose. Doctors use different testing methods, but some use IQ tests to help them with their diagnosis, although this is not really an adequate testing method because IQ tests have many elements that autistic children struggle with. They will also determine the level of autism by the way the child uses language, and the way he behaves. It is important that you find physicians that are very experienced with autism and can diagnose it well.
Tags: Health