Page 30 - Education Supplement_Issue 1_2023

OPINION PIECE

DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES-
DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES-

Understanding High Functioning Autism

By Nicola Killops

hen you hear names like Elon Musk, Nikola Tesla, Daryl Hannah, Anthony educate yourself and understand your child
Hopkins, and Bill Gates, the word ‘autism’ is probably the furthest thing better. It prevents you from getting frustrated
Wfrom your mind. You equate the names with success, innovation, talent, and when they behave in certain ways because
creativity. Well, what if I told you that every one of those well-known icons is autistic? you know why it is happening.

According to the CDC, there has been a sharp increase in autism cases in recent When you look at the list of names I
years. For example, 1 in 54 children was diagnosed with autism in 2016, up from 1 mentioned, it’s evident that an HFA diagnosis
in 150 in 2000. But the numbers are misleading. Although more children are being doesn’t prevent someone from having
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, it’s not because they are more prevalent. a reasonably straightforward education
Instead, more diagnoses are occurring because of a better understanding of the autism experience, functioning in society, or
spectrum and more sophisticated assessment tools. establishing families and careers. Still, it does
mean that they’re misunderstood.
Many children on the autistic spectrum are so high functioning that their autism
is difficult to detect. Before 2013, High-functioning autism (HFA) was diagnosed as Because high-functioning autism is ‘not
Asperger Syndrome, but it was reclassified to ensure those on the high end of the obvious,’ they are expected to behave in a
spectrum had the same access to support. socially acceptable manner, which can be
extremely challenging. As a result, children
Understanding the Label are often ostracized, as they are still learning
My son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was seven years old. to ‘adapt or die.’
It was not a simple process. I knew he was different and had been from specialist to
specialist. Still, it took a while to pinpoint exactly what was happening. Many people Then there is the stereotyping. “Oh, you
questioned my quest for a diagnosis, saying that it wasn’t fair to assign a label. But that must love Big Bang Theory; you’re just like
wasn’t the point. When you know what you are dealing with, it empowers you. You can Sheldon Cooper!’

Education | February 2023 | 28