Pediatrician Questions Autism

What does it mean to have high-functioning autism?

My son was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, but his doctor described him as "high-functioning". I'm not really sure what this means. Can you explain it to me?

1 Answer

High functioning autistic children are able to do fairly well. Usually they have a normal IQ and their decreased social interaction is not to the point of interfering with their education. Their communication skills are good enough to blend in with normal education.