Best Term to Describe Autism When It Presents Greater Challenges?
Friday April 6, 2007
Many of you have expressed opinions on the best term to use when referring to people whose autism presents greater expressive challenges. If I understand correctly, there are certainly some cases in which "low functioning autism" is, in fact, an accurate term - but many in which "low- communicating autism" is more accurate. There are also people who may have difficulty expressing themselves in words, but through other means make it clear that they are intelligent, creative individuals.
For the purpose of writing about the subject, I need to select a term that's appropriate - but not too long-winded - which describes a heterogeneous group of people for whom autism causes significant communication challenges. Are any of these terms acceptable? Or would another be preferable?
Thanks so very much for your thoughts!Classic autism Profound (or severe) autism Low-communicating autism Challenging autism Linguistically challenged autism
Comments
Good of you to consider political correctness which is very important for a great many people.
For me, just to hear people discussing the possible terminology at all is enough to give me hope that ‘awareness’ really is growing, which is a huge leap in the right direction.
Best wishes
http://whitterer-autism.blogspot.com
Lisa, this is hard, but I think low-communicating autism is the best term for those who are not verbal, but do not have significant cognitive deficits. I’m assuming from this you intend to keep using the term low-functioning autism for those who have both mental retardation and autism? Or are you looking for another name for them (like my son Jalen) also?
I think that describing it as accurately as possible is the most appropriate approach. For my child, I explain to people that she has “non-verbal autism.” You could modify it as “Autism with limited language”. For others the individual may be able to speak words, but not be able to express ideas, or form sentences. This might be described as “Autism with expressive challenges”, etc. Also, I think that families need to decide which terms feel the most appropriate based on their situations. I am obviously comfortable with the examples I that listed, but for others, these may be a complete mismatch. Only the family can accurately describe their situation. However, for general purposes I think that honest, descriptive, non-judgemental terms are the most suitable.
I also use the terms non verbal Autism and non verbal communicator to describe. My son is 4 and although he does use quite a few words with purpose I still describe him as being a non verbal communicator. In my opinion this term is not offensive, however everyone is different. My son also uses sign language and pictures to communicate his wants and needs, he is not considered “low functioning” but he does not always talk to communicate.
I would hope that anyone who reads your articles on About.com knows that you are just trying to help people with Autism have a voice in society and hopefully no one will be offended if you are trying your best not to be offensive. I appreciate and enjoy reading your articles keep up the good work!
The concern over the politically correct term to use is really a concern raised by high functioning autistic persons and their parents. As the father of a low functioning autistic boy my priority is to improve his skills and abilities so that he may function better in the world not wring my hands in agony over what are the best words to use in describing his condition or his challenges.
I have a son who is low functioning which is the term I use to describe the fact that at age 11 he is unable to function in the world at a high level. This includes low oral skills and low verbal skills which are not the same. [Oral refers to spoken communication, verbal refers to the use of words whether written or oral. As a lawyer oral evidence is disinguished from other verbal evidence in written form. Video and photographic evidence may encompass imagery AND verbal evidence oral or written.]
There is nothing at all wrong with using the expression low functioning to describe an autistic person if they are in fact low functioning. And it is a term which has been used in professional literature.
If you want to discuss politically correct terminology though perhaps you could discuss the use of the term “autie” which adds nothing to any description of autistic persons and personally is not a term I would use to describe my son.
I have heard many people say that the term “Autie” is not meant to be offensive in anyway, but it just doesn’t settle right with me personally. For example, if a child was mentally retarted, would you feel comfortable calling him your little tard? I wouldn’t. Or even plain “Tard”, for that matter. Or “Tardie”. None of these seem very nice to me, even if they were to be used in a way that “isn’t sopposed to be offensive.” Just my feelings on the term (autie).
Ooops, I just noticed that my last post (#6) is in the wrong place. I meant to post it in response to a comment posted on the discussion about terms to describe autistic individuals. I guess after I read that discussion, I went down to this one, and then still thinking about the 1st one responded here on accident. Just thought I would clarify in case anyone was wondering about my out of context mesage on this board.