High and low functioning is not a diagnostic term. The term was used by some before the DSM-5 introduced the three severity levels, to describe a persons support needs. High functioning indicated low support needs, and often implied that an individual did not have a co-occurring intellectual disability, while low functioning implied high support needs and an intellectual disability.

Functioning levels is also used to indicate the impact that autism had on a persons functional skills.

Many autistic individuals consider the use of functioning labels offensive.

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