High-Functioning Autism (HFA) is at the milder end of autism spectrum disorder. It’s characterized by fewer social and communication challenges than other forms of autism, but more severe language skills.
As with all types of autism, HFA can involve significant problems in both verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as repetitive behaviors that may interfere with daily life.
Article Contents
- 1 People with HFA can be very intelligent and do well in school and later in life.
- 2 Symptoms of HFA include the same symptoms found in other forms of ASD, but usually at a lesser severity.
- 3 People with HFA may have strengths and weaknesses in different areas.
- 4 There are several types of therapy that can help people with high-functioning autism function properly in society.
- 5 High-functioning autism is different for everyone with it, so treatment should be tailored to the individual’s needs.
People with HFA can be very intelligent and do well in school and later in life.
High-functioning autism can be a spectrum disorder. Some people will have more severe symptoms, while others may only experience mild signs and symptoms.
Some people with HFA are very intelligent and do well in school or later in life.
They are able to follow instructions, complete tasks, and make good decisions based on their own knowledge of the world around them.
Symptoms of HFA include the same symptoms found in other forms of ASD, but usually at a lesser severity.
HFA is a form of autism that can be diagnosed as early as infancy. Like other forms of ASD, it presents with the same symptoms:
- Social Skills/Communication:
- difficulty making eye contact, responding to others and understanding nonverbal communication.
- Difficulty expressing themselves verbally or using their hands to show what they want. They often have difficulty reading facial expressions and gestures in order to understand what people are saying to them.
- Repetitive Behaviors: HFA children may repeat certain behaviors over and over again (elevator scream) or engage in self-stimulating activities like spinning objects around their fingers or pulling at their hair/nails (pushing buttons on toys). They also often engage in ritualistic play such as lining up toys by color or number instead of playing with them directly like other children do; these rituals have been found helpful for some HFA individuals who have trouble transitioning between tasks during conversation time when asked questions by others around them rather than just waiting until someone gets done talking before starting another activity.”
People with HFA may have strengths and weaknesses in different areas.
People with High-Functioning Autism may have strengths and weaknesses in different areas. For example, some people with HFA may be very good at math but struggle with language, while others can communicate well but struggle to interpret nonverbal cues.
- Some children with autism have excellent verbal and social skills but are not as good at other areas like mathematics or art.
- Other children who have high-functioning autism have poor verbal skills but excel in academic subjects such as reading or writing assignments.
There are several types of therapy that can help people with high-functioning autism function properly in society.
There are several types of therapy that can help people with high-functioning autism function properly in society.
Speech therapy is often the first step toward teaching a person how to communicate effectively, as well as comprehend and express thoughts.
Occupational therapy assists individuals with developing skills necessary for everyday life such as dressing, feeding themselves, cleaning up after themselves, and more.
Social skills training teaches how to interact with others without causing embarrassment or harm — this can be especially helpful when interacting with adults or in job interviews where one must make small talk with strangers at work (or school).
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals understand their feelings better so they don’t act on them before thinking through the consequences of their actions; this will allow them time* *to consider alternatives before acting impulsively.*
Developmental counseling is another type of treatment used by professionals who specialize in helping people cope not only physically but emotionally too.
High-functioning autism is different for everyone with it, so treatment should be tailored to the individual’s needs.
High-functioning autism is different for everyone with it, so treatment should be tailored to the individual’s needs.
The best treatment depends on the individual but may include medication, therapy, or social skills training. It can also include education about autism and teaching ways to live a life that is more independent and autonomous than before.
The goal of high-functioning autism treatment is not just positive results in schoolwork or behavior but also improved self-esteem and confidence in everyday activities such as socializing with friends or managing finances independently (or both).