Functioning Labels

Functioning labels — like “high-functioning” or “low-functioning” — are often used to describe neurodivergent people. But they can do more harm than good.

They’re a bit like judging a book by how loudly it talks. Someone described as “high-functioning” might be masking, struggling silently, or burning out trying to meet expectations. Someone called “low-functioning” might have deep insight, creativity, or capability that’s not obvious on the surface.

These labels flatten complex experiences into binary categories. They don’t tell you what someone actually needs, or what support would be helpful. They also risk dehumanising people — reducing them to a level of perceived usefulness or independence.

Instead of labels, many prefer to talk about support needs — which can change over time and vary by situation. This shifts the focus from judgement to understanding.

There’s nothing wrong with needing more or less support. But there is a problem when the language we use hides that truth.