Should We Still Use ‘High-Functioning’ and ‘Low-Functioning’ Autism Labels?
The “high-functioning” and “low-functioning” labels assigned to autism grew out of an attempt to describe how much an autistic person can navigate daily life independently. But are they still helpful—or even accurate? In recent years, many autistic individuals, parents, and professionals have questioned these terms. This article explores the origins of “high-” vs “low-functioning” autism labels, why they’re controversial, and what alternative approaches are emerging.