Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO "High-functioning autism" (HFA) is a term used to describe people with a certain level of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They have milder symptoms and ...

Parker said the Asperger's diagnosis, which is used interchangeably with high-functioning autism, made it easier for her to get along with others -- even her husband and their four kids.

Since high-functioning autism is not a diagnosable medical condition, there is no set of symptoms listed to identify it in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which ...

Some individuals use the terms borderline autism, mild autism, Asperger’s, and high-functioning autism interchangeably to identify people with less severe ASD symptoms.

For this reason, I contend that people with high-functioning autism have thinner boundaries than those who have a more severe form of ASD. The latter keep their thoughts and feelings tightly guarded.