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So what actually are the numbers on the low-functioning to high-functioning scale? Because it does not surprise that someone who starts screeching uncontrollably because they find their toothbrush on the wrong side of the sink in the morning would not concern themselves with the new Nike Airs.
Low functioning autism is an antiquated term. But, for years those on the lower end of the autism spectrum were more often diagnosed than those on the higher end of functionality because their manifestation of ASD was more apparent. Within the last 20 years those on the higher functioning end of the spectrum have started outnumbering those on the lower end. Also, due to better rehabilitation resources for people with ASD some initially on the lower end of functioning were able to be reassessed as on the higher functioning end.
A lot of people who were erroneously accessed as having an intellectual disability on the ASD spectrum was because they were non verbal. Once speech and language therapy was able to help some of these kids speak. Once they were able to communicate it was apparent that they weren't actually slow. When I was 2 my parents were told I would be able to write or spell my own name. Here I am more than 20 years later studying psychology in college.