Thanks so much for telling us about your son and how the “hfa” term was helpful in regard to figuring out his diagnosis; MothersVox at Autism’s Edges has been writing of late about her daughter’s diagnostic odyssey. I much appreciate how you place this in the context of helping pediatricians understand the spectrum, and that there are “varieties of autism,” so to speak.

I really appreciate this column and the perspective you offer on the differences b/t “high” and “low” functioning.

If I could just say that in the months following my son’s diagnosis, I’ve felt like “a fraud” in the autistic community. My son speaks very well (the reason why previous pediatricians said he “couldn’t possibly be autistic”), interacts with his classmates often, and makes eye contact frequently. And, I was told on numerous occasions, when I brought him in to doctor after doctor because something was “off” and I just knew it, that he wasn’t autistic b/c he didn’t meet specific, categorical characteristics. When he finally received the autism diagnosis in May, I *knew* that this was the right diagnosis. That he was autistic–just like I’ve known in my heart since he was 2 years old.

But, I will admit that the diagnosis was hard to understand and wrap my brain around b/c he was so *differently* autistic than any other autistic child I’d met. I’ve felt like a fraud in this community many times b/c my son isn’t in a self-contained classroom and he does have age-appropriate communication skills.

Honestly, researching the differences b/t “high functioning” autism and autism in general did help me feel more relieved that the diagnosis he received was the appropriate one. I’ll admit that for me, the discussions I read on the differences b/t “high” and “low” helped me to see the scope of autism on the spectrum. As I’m writing this, maybe the difference isn’t “high” or “low” but encouraging pediatricians, diagnosticians, and even the autism community, itself, to understand the variety on the spectrum.

Still, I completely see your point and think the rheotric of autism is one that deserves further analysis and inquiry. But, the distinctions did serve a purpose for me and did help me to see the variances of the spectrum. And, I just wanted to share my own experiences struggling with a “high-functioning” diagnosis.

Allison Tepper Singer is all about Allison Tepper Singer.

Allison saying that “cure” isn’t a four letter word (her attempt at irony??) is like the KKK grand wizard telling black people that “n*gger” used by racists isn’t an insult.

Thanks for that clarification, Allison.
You won’t be allowing any anti-cure “low functioning” autistics on to your board any time soon, will you? No, I didn’t think so.