![]() “Low-” and “high-functioning” are most often used in research literature to describe the cognitive ability of an individual with ASD. ![]() Inconsistent and poorly defined subgroups make it impossible to carefully compare across studies of so-called “low-” or “high-functioning” individuals. Additionally, to categorize an individual as “low-functioning” may obscure strengths (e.g., average cognitive function in minimally verbal individuals Bal, Katz, Bishop, & Krasileva, 2016), whereas classifying someone as “high-functioning” may underestimate impairments in areas such as daily living skills and supportive needs (e.g., Kenworthy, Case, Harms, Martin, & Wallace, 2010). The level of impairment used to denote “low” or “high” function is often obscured by the casual use of the terms to describe the average or modal presentation of a sample, failing to acknowledge the broad range of abilities actually encompassed by the study participants. At some point, the terms became so commonplace that the domain of function is often not specified. Here, we argue that the imprecision of this terminology hinders scientific progress, and we suggest that we turn to DSM-5 diagnostic criteria that include descriptive specifiers for a more precise, and appropriate, nomenclature.Īcross studies, the terms “low-” and “high-functioning” refer to categories based on ratings for a myriad of different behaviors, including cognition (IQ), language, and social-communication. The scientific problems with use of these terms are also concerning, but are less widely acknowledged. ![]() Some self-advocates with ASD report that these terms are perceived as pejorative ( Ortega, 2009). A search on this Journal’s website, which like other autism journals lists “high/low functioning” as potential submission classifications, yielded 167 results for “high-functioning” and 49 for “low-functioning” in 2016 alone. These modifiers were often used to characterize children with ASD on the basis of characteristics not specific to ASD (e.g., IQ, language). ![]() Use of the term “low-functioning” in the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) literature dates to at least 1969 ( Goldfarb, Goldfarb, & Pollack, 1969), and the term “high autistic” was used as early as 1973 ( DeMyer et al., 1973). ![]()
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