Lately, a lot of people have been asking, "Can someone be slightly autistic?" This question has caught attention in talks about how our brains work differently. We need to understand where this idea comes from and why it might not be the best way to talk about autism.
The Basics of Autism and the Idea of 'Slightness’
Some folks think of autism as being on a straight line, from a little to a lot. This has led to terms like "high-functioning" or "low-functioning". Some people even say "slightly autistic". But here’s the thing: autism isn’t something you can measure like that. Everyone who is autistic experiences it in their own way.
To be clear, no, you cannot be "slightly autistic", in the same way that you can't be "slightly pregnant". You either meet the criteria or you don't. You’re either autistic or not. If you think you might be “a little bit autistic”, chances are, you’re probably autistic.
These labels, like "high-functioning", sound official, but they can be misleading. They can make us think we know all about a person's abilities or challenges when we really don't. For example, someone might look at an autistic person who can talk well and say they are "high-functioning". But that same person might struggle with loud noises or bright lights.
Another thing to consider is how some of us autistic people learn to act like non-autistic folks to fit in. This is called “masking”. Just because someone is good at masking doesn’t mean they are only "slightly" autistic. It just means they've found ways to manage in a world that can sometimes be challenging for them. Sadly, “high-functioning” usually actually means “high-masking”.
Real Stories from Autistic People
Let’s talk about a few people to understand better:
Alex: Alex teaches at a university. Most people think Alex acts like anyone else. But what they don’t see is how Alex struggles at parties because lights and sounds can be too much. Alex has learned tricks like copying how others stand or talk to fit in. So, while some might say Alex is "slightly autistic" or "high-functioning", they don't see the whole story. He is high-masking.
Priya: When Priya was a kid, she didn’t talk much. She found it hard to act like other kids at school. But at home, she painted beautiful pictures. As she grew up, she started to talk a little more but still loved painting. Saying Priya is "low-functioning" misses out on her amazing talent.
Jamal: Jamal writes computer code and does it really well. But he feels lost when many people talk at once in meetings. He's read about autism and wonders if that's why group tasks feel tricky. He's learned ways to act more like his coworkers, but inside, he feels different.
All these people show that autism isn't simple. It’s not about being "a little bit" autistic or "a lot" autistic. Everyone has their own story.
Understanding Autism Better
Medical and allied health professionals use a guide called the DSM-5 to help them understand brain and mental health. This guide doesn't use the term "slightly autistic." Instead, it says that every autistic person is different.
Also, where and how someone lives can make a big difference. For example, an autistic person might do great in a quiet, understanding place. But the same person might struggle in a noisy, busy place.
If you're trying to figure out if you might be autistic, remember: it’s not about how "much" autism you have. It's about understanding yourself and your unique strengths and challenges.
So, to summarise, just as one can't be "slightly pregnant", one can't be "slightly autistic". Every individual has their strengths and challenges, and it's neither accurate nor helpful to reduce someone's identity to a singular label or phrase. It's about acknowledging individuals for all that they are and not pigeonholing them based on one characteristic.
This neuroaffirming article on 'Can You Be Slightly Autistic' responds to misconceptions stemming from search queries like “Can you be slightly autistic?”, “High-functioning vs. low-functioning autism”, “Differences in autism presentation”, “Understanding autism spectrum”, “What does slightly autistic mean?”, “Am I a little bit autistic?”, “Autism and masking”, “Meaning of high-masking”, “Autism and personal stories”, “Understanding different autism experiences”, “Autism DSM-5 criteria”, “How to tell if I am autistic?”, “How do autistic people feel?”, and “Is there a scale of autism?”.
Please note, the language used in the search terms above may not be neuroaffirming, but they may be search terms that people use. By listing these here, the hope is that people may end up accessing these pages and learning information about the autistic neurotype through the neuroaffirming lens, rather than the impairment based information that is so plentifully available.