People With Highly Functional Autism, What Are They Like?

Just over a decade ago, Anthony Hopkins received a diagnosis that didn’t surprise him too much: Asperger syndrome. Being on the autism spectrum or more specifically being one of those highly functional autistic people, was, to take his own words, an advantage. The reason? He has an impeccable memory and loves to reel off the characters he plays.

We could name many more famous with suspected de- disorder , or autism spectrum, as Albert Einstein, Tim Burton, Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, etc. Now, having as a reference these personalities, who sometimes border on genius in their work, we might think that having this highly functional type of autism is almost a blessing or a stroke of fortune.

However, we cannot be carried away by appearances. Many of these people excel in each of their skills, be they artistic, technical or scientific. However, on a social level and above all, on an emotional level, they often have great limitations. Difficulties that in turn are a source of limitations or social blunders.

Anthony Hopkins admits that, for a good time in his life, he had to deal with anger and the obvious difficulty in connecting with people. There are his past problems with alcoholism. At present, and thanks to painting and music, he finds that channel with which to harmonize his emotional universe.

Characteristics of people with highly functional autism

People with highly functional autism are diagnosed, on average, as early as adulthood. That this is so is basically due to the fact that they tend to have a fairly high intelligence that allows them to overcome difficulties.

However , families and the social environment do tend to perceive certain limitations. However, these deficiencies are attributed more to the personality factor and it is rarely suspected that behind certain behaviors is the autism spectrum disorder. However, let’s see what people with highly functional autism tend to be like.

Greater verbal reasoning ability

We noted earlier, people with functional autism express, speak, reason and communicate effectively and skillfully.

Good spatial skills

As a noteworthy trait, not only his higher than average IQ is striking, but also his good skills in spatial intelligence. This translates into the ability to imagine, visualize and distinguish between different objects of two or three dimensions, as well as to transform concepts, modify and manipulate data and objects, etc.

Very curious people

Highly functional people are very curious and show different interests early on. Many focus on very specific areas, with which they will “obsess” in many cases. They look for information, they ask questions, they do research and they dedicate much of their time to that particular interest.

Social constraints

Although they show different intellectual competencies, there is something that usually defines these people: the limitation in sociability. They are not good at reading social situations, so they often feel lost in them.

They have trouble connecting with other people, and many of them shy away from eye contact. They feel that they are different, which leads them to prefer solitude. In interactions, they tend to enjoy discussions and not so much relaxed conversations, where double meanings may prevail.

Anxiety problems

Unfortunately, many children with functional autism end up being considered hyperactive. They are those restless children who touch everything, who ask constant questions, who are often bored … Thus, studies such as those carried out at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, by Dr. Alinda Gilliot, point out something remarkable .

People with highly functional autism often have anxiety problems and even obsessive compulsive disorders. They also had greater difficulty managing their emotions.

The person with functional autism and oxytocin

As in most neurological conditions, the autism spectrum is a complex combination of characteristics that generates a different way of approaching reality. To begin with, there will be people with more severe autism where not even effective communication occurs.

In other cases, Asperger’s syndrome can present itself in its highest aspect, such as the sage or savant syndrome ; a type of disorder where, although physical, mental or motor disabilities may appear, an exceptional ability arises for something in particular: drawing, mathematics, physics …

Now, what about highly functional autism? Many define it as mild autism, others as Asperger’s syndrome. And although this category does not appear officially in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), it is an undeniable reality.

There are many people who reach adulthood and find the label afterwards, at which point they understand the reason for their limitations / problems in social and emotional matters. As a curiosity, it should be noted that in recent years interesting therapeutic research has been done on the subject.

Thus, the National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, United States, has found that oxytocin significantly improves the social behavior of people with highly functional autism. Therefore, it is a relevant piece of information that we will be aware of.