--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have high-functioning autism, you…" description: "\"If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a lot of autistic traits but if you've got a particular lifestyle where it's possibly an advanta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png" --- # If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a… ![“If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a lot of autistic traits but if you've got a particular lifestyle where it's possibly an advantage to be leading a solitary lifestyle and be quite obsessive, you're clearly able to function and maybe even make valuable contributions in your…” quote by Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png) > “If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a lot of autistic traits but if you've got a particular lifestyle where it's possibly an advantage to be leading a solitary lifestyle and be quite obsessive, you're clearly able to function and maybe even make valuable contributions in your work, so arguably you don't need a diagnosis.” [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. High-functioning autistic individuals can thrive without formal diagnosis if their traits suit solitary, obsessive work, but lack of diagnosis may limit support. **In simple terms:** Some autistic people succeed without a diagnosis, yet may miss help. Key Takeaway Consider diagnosis for access to resources, even if functioning well. Themes neurodiversity diagnosis workplace solitary work obsessive focus Mood analytical pragmatic Type informational advisory When to use this quote - tech industry - research labs - creative freelancing - academic settings Key Concepts self‑awareness accommodations strengths andweaknesses Questions to Reflect On - Do you benefit from formal support? - How might a diagnosis change your work environment? A Different Perspective Relying solely on self‑assessment can overlook hidden challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Autistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autistic/) [Autistic Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autistic-traits-3081351/) [Functioning Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/functioning-autism-1978236/) [High Functioning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-functioning-1031844/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Lot Autistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot-autistic-4745230/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Solitary life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary-life/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [It took 24 years for me to harness my autistic traits into something useful, and I have grown to regard them as a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/it-took-24-years-for-me-to-harness-my-autistic-traits-into-something/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [Research demonstrates that autistic traits are distributed into the non-autistic population; some people have more of them, some have fewer. History suggests that many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morton-ann-gernsbacher/research-demonstrates-that-autistic-traits-are-distributed-into-the/) [Morton Ann Gernsbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morton-ann-gernsbacher/) > [Exploring Feelings for Young Children with High-Functioning Autism or Asperger's Disorder: The STAMP Treatment Manual offers practical recommendations and creative practices that will certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liane-holliday-willey/exploring-feelings-for-young-children-with-high-functioning-autism-or/) [Liane Holliday Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liane-holliday-willey/) > [Among both individuals with high-functioning autism or Asperger and their parents, many are superfast at spotting details. You hardly have time to get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/among-both-individuals-with-high-functioning-autism-or-asperger-and/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [We have to be careful that we don't keep multiplying disorders and diluting them. I think there is a difference. People talk about Asperger's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darold-treffert/we-have-to-be-careful-that-we-don-t-keep-multiplying-disorders-and/) [Darold Treffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darold-treffert/) > [“Often those on the more able end of the spectrum may be considered too "high functioning" by the systems in place to require any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chantal-sicile-kira/often-those-on-the-more-able-end-of-the-spectrum-may-be-considered/) [Chantal Sicile-Kira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chantal-sicile-kira/) > [I'm a high-functioning sociopath, do your research.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath-do-your-research/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [“I’m not a psychopath, I’m a high functioning sociopath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-m-not-a-psychopath-i-m-a-high-functioning-sociopath/) [Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/) > [Creating a high-functioning education system requires all the strategies involved in building high-functioning organisations anywhere. It requires a deliberate and aggressive strategy to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kopp/creating-a-high-functioning-education-system-requires-all-the/) [Wendy Kopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kopp/) > [“It was a myth you couldn't function on opiates: shooting up was one thing but for someone like me-jumping at pigeons beating from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-was-a-myth-you-couldn-t-function-on-opiates-shooting-up-was-one/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [“He’s a really smart high-functioning Asperger’s case who deals with social interaction by emulating it in his head, running a set of social heuristics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-a-really-smart-high-functioning-asperger-s-case-who-deals-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m a high-functioning basket case.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia-riley/i-m-a-high-functioning-basket-case/) [Lia Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia-riley/) > [ We make our discoveries while in the state \[of high functioning\] because then we are clear-sighted. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-henri/we-make-our-discoveries-while-in-the-state-of-high-functioning/) [Robert Henri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-henri/) > [“Chetta believed that most people who worked in the arts were high-functioning schizophrenics, and she was no different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/chetta-believed-that-most-people-who-worked-in-the-arts-were-high/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Autistic people's disabilities are widely known, but one of their best-established strengths is their attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autistic-people-s-disabilities-are-widely-known-but-one-of-their-best/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## More by Simon Baron-Cohen > [People with psychopathy are very good at reading the minds of their victims. That's probably most clearly seen in deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/people-with-psychopathy-are-very-good-at-reading-the-minds-of-their/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Difficulty empathising translates into a whole set of hurdles. You might be last person to get the point of a joke, which can leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/difficulty-empathising-translates-into-a-whole-set-of-hurdles-you/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy. The male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/the-female-brain-is-predominantly-hard-wired-for-empathy-the-male/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [The idea of a cure for autism is itself controversial. Some people with autism say they don't want to be cured, because autism gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/the-idea-of-a-cure-for-autism-is-itself-controversial-some-people/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Autistic people's disabilities are widely known, but one of their best-established strengths is their attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autistic-people-s-disabilities-are-widely-known-but-one-of-their-best/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [If you have a child with autism, and he or she has good intelligence, with no delay in language learning maybe there is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-a-child-with-autism-and-he-or-she-has-good-intelligence/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I try to keep an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/i-try-to-keep-an-open-mind/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Autism spectrum disorders are linked to other problems: Most of the people we see in our Asperger clinic for adults also suffer from clinical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autism-spectrum-disorders-are-linked-to-other-problems-most-of-the/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [What we want is that one day every workplace will be diverse - we already encourage that with gender and ethnicity, but the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/what-we-want-is-that-one-day-every-workplace-will-be-diverse-we/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [When I first started in this field there were all kinds of stereotypes about autism, as if these were children from another planet, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/when-i-first-started-in-this-field-there-were-all-kinds-of/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can be useful to help a person understand why they have had difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/a-diagnosis-of-asperger-syndrome-can-be-useful-to-help-a-person/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Empathy is a necessary step for truth and reconciliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-is-a-necessary-step-for-truth-and-reconciliation/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Because people with autism are also strongly obsessional, meaning that they pursue their current interest to extraordinary detail and lengths and in great depth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/because-people-with-autism-are-also-strongly-obsessional-meaning-that/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Empathy is a skill like any other human skill - and if you get a chance to practice, you can get better at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-is-a-skill-like-any-other-human-skill-and-if-you-get-a-chance/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) [Explore all 55 Simon Baron-Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## More Autism quotes > [“We know that children with autism like order, that they are often very visual and that they can be quite literal. They deserve beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-devine/we-know-that-children-with-autism-like-order-that-they-are-often-very/) [Adele Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-devine/) > [In fact, when we as neuro-typical people encounter a person with autism spectrum syndrome who's always been that way it is that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/in-fact-when-we-as-neuro-typical-people-encounter-a-person-with/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/if-you-give-us-a-safe-vaccine-we-ll-use-it-it-shouldn-t-be-polio/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [The position of Autism Speaks has been for quite awhile that we need to find out what's happening. We know there's a genetic component,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-emken/the-position-of-autism-speaks-has-been-for-quite-awhile-that-we-need/) [Elizabeth Emken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-emken/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/children-must-be-taught-how-to-think-not-what-to-think/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“The autistic mind is not the wave at the surface of the ocean, but the whole world that exists below.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krissy-bells/the-autistic-mind-is-not-the-wave-at-the-surface-of-the-ocean-but-the/) [Krissy Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krissy-bells/) > [In the person with autism, the brain may already be seeing the part and be less distracted by the whole, and in the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/in-the-person-with-autism-the-brain-may-already-be-seeing-the-part/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [When you have autism or aspergers, it's so hard to get a social life but trust me, in the end everyone can achieve at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lia/when-you-have-autism-or-aspergers-it-s-so-hard-to-get-a-social-life/) [Lia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lia/) > [“Unfortunately, by this time it didn't matter. Self-diagnosed autistics and fakers were asking diagnosed autistics whether or not they had a diagnosis, and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-d-taylor/unfortunately-by-this-time-it-didn-t-matter-self-diagnosed-autistics/) [Thomas D. Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-d-taylor/) [Browse all 621 Autism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a lot of autistic traits but if you've got a particular lifestyle where it's possibly an advantage to be leading a solitary lifestyle and be quite obsessive, you're clearly able to function and maybe even make valuable contributions in your work, so arguably you don't need a diagnosis.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Baron-Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you-may-well-have-a-lot-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Autism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you-may-well-have-a-lot-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7e/simon-baron-cohen-12415_autism_if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you_576067.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you have high-functioning autism, you may well have a lot of autistic traits but if you've got a…” — Simon Baron-Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Simon Baron-Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you have high-functioning autism, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you-may-well-have-a-lot-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/if-you-have-high-functioning-autism-you-may-well-have-a-lot-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```