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The Traits of High-Functioning Autism: Fact Sheet
Is there a detailed list of traits associated with high functioning autism that we can use as a gauge to see whether or not to have our child assessed?
A child with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) or Asperger's often has many of the following traits:
- Has a different form of introspection and self-consciousness
- Has a fascination with a topic that is unusual in intensity or focus
- Takes longer to process social information due to using intelligence rather than intuition
- Needs assistance with some self-help and organizational skills
- Enjoys a very brief and low intensity expression of affection, and becomes confused or overwhelmed when greater levels of expression are experienced or expected
- Collects facts and figures about a specific topic
- Has a tendency to be considered disrespectful and rude by others
- Has a tendency to make a literal interpretation of what someone says
- Has an unusual profile of learning abilities
- Teachers often identify problems with organizational abilities, especially with homework assignments and essays
- Teachers soon recognize that the child has a distinctive learning style, being talented in understanding the logical and physical world, noticing details, and remembering and arranging facts in a systematic fashion
- Often has levels of anxiety, depression or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder
- Can be easily distracted, especially in the classroom
- When problem solving, the child appears to have a one-track mind and a fear of failure
- Has a different, but not defective, way of thinking
- Is clumsy in terms of gait and coordination
- Has a delay in the development of the art of persuasion, compromise and conflict resolution
- Has delayed social maturity and social reasoning
- Has difficulty reading the messages in someone’s eyes
- Has difficulty making friends
- Is often teased by peers due to his/her “odd” mannerisms
- Has difficulty with the communication and control of emotions
- If the child with HFA is not successful socially at school, then academic success becomes more important as the primary motivation to attend school and for the development of self-esteem
- In adolescence, the interests can evolve to include electronics and computers, fantasy literature, science fiction, and a fascination with a particular person
- Much of the knowledge associated with the child's special interest is self-directed and self-taught
- Is vulnerable to feeling depressed, with about 1 in 3 HFA children having clinical depression
- Experiences physical and emotional exhaustion from socializing
- Has problems knowing when something may cause embarrassment to others
- Is remarkably honesty
- Has sensitivities to specific sounds, aromas, sights, tastes and touch
- Can be immature in the development of the ability to catch, throw or kick a ball
- HFA girls often develop a special interest in fiction rather than facts
- Often has academic abilities above his/her grade level
- Sometimes the special interest is a particular animal, and can be so intense that the child acts like the animal
- Has difficulties with handwriting
- Becomes hypervigilant, tense and distractible in sensory stimulating environments (e.g., in the classroom), unsure when the next painful sensory experience will occur
- The emotion management can be conceptualized as a problem with "energy management," specifically an excessive amount of emotional energy, and difficulty controlling and releasing the energy constructively
- Emotional maturity is usually at least three years behind that of his/her peers
- The special interest can be a source of enjoyment, knowledge, self-identity and self-esteem that can be constructively used by parents, teachers and therapists
- The most common sensory sensitivity is to very specific sounds
- There can be an under- or over- reaction to the experience of pain and discomfort
- The sense of balance, movement perception, and body orientation can be unusual
- May have a fixation on something neither human nor toy, or a fascination with a specific category of objects and the acquisition of as many examples as possible
- The child’s overriding priority may be to solve a problem rather than satisfy the social or emotional needs of others
- The child is usually renowned for being direct, speaking his/her mind and being determined and having a strong sense of social justice
- The child may actively seek and enjoy solitude, be a loyal friend, and have a distinct sense of humor
- The child usually has a strong desire to seek knowledge, truth and perfection with a different set of priorities than would be expected with "typical" children
- The child values being creative rather than co-operative
- Can have difficulty with the management and expression of emotions
- May perceive errors that are not apparent to others, giving considerable attention to detail rather than noticing the “big picture”
- The child's special interest has several functions: to (a) create a sense of identity, (b) create an alternative world, (c) ensure greater predictability and certainty in life, (d) facilitate conversation and indicate intellectual ability, (e) help understand the physical world, (f) overcome anxiety, (g) provide pleasure, and (h) provide relaxation
- There seems to be two main categories of special interest: collections, and the acquisition of knowledge on a specific topic or concept
- Has a limited vocabulary to describe emotions, and a lack of subtlety and variety in emotional expression
- Tends to have a different perception of situations and sensory experiences
- May have problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others
- Unusual language abilities that include advanced vocabulary and syntax, but delayed conversation skills, unusual prosody, and a tendency to be pedantic
- Unusual or special interests can develop as early as age 2 to 3 years and may commence with a preoccupation with parts of objects (e.g., spinning the wheels of toy cars) or manipulating electrical switches
- HFA traits are more conspicuous in early childhood and gradually diminish during adolescence, but some traits remain throughout adulthood
- When one considers the attributes associated with the special interests, it is important to consider not only the benefits to the HFA child, but also the benefits to society
- The child’s coordination can be immature. and he/she may have a strange, sometimes idiosyncratic gait that lacks fluency and efficiency
If most of the traits above characterize your child, then an assessment by a qualified professional would be in order.
More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:
==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's
==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism
==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance
==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism
==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook
==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book
==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism
Do you need some assistance in parenting your Aspergers or HFA child? Click here to use a counseling psychologist and ASD expert as your personal parent coach.
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