A Closer Look at High-Functioning Autism, featuring Robyn Thom, MD – Shrinking It Down

By Khadijah Booth Watkins, Associate Director and Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Coming into April, Autism Awareness Month, we’ve noticed more families coming to our website with questions about high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some are seeking guidance on challenges families face, some are wanting to learn more about behaviors stereotypically associated with ASD, and others are wondering what happened to the Asperger’s diagnosis.

On today’s episode of “Shrinking It Down,” we welcome special guest Dr. Robyn Thom, a psychiatrist at the Lurie Center for Autism at the Massachusetts General Hospital, for a conversation about challenges for kids and teens with ASD, including with social relationships and repetitive behaviors. She also shares guidance on seeking evaluation and treatment for kids with ASD, as well as the importance of early disclosure about their diagnosis.

Thank you for joining in this conversation. Do you have a question or comment about high-functioning ASD? We’d love to know. Write to us!

Media List

Robyn Thom, MD (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Lurie Center for Autism (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (Official Trailer) (YouTube)
Vancouver, Canada (City of Vancouver)
What Is Autism Spectrum? (MGH Clay Center)
DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-5)
DSM-5: What Happened to Asperger’s? (MGH Clay Center)
The Enduring Power of Asperger’s, Even as a Non-Diagnosis (Wired)
Blunt and Nuanced: The Pain of High Functioning Autism (MGH Clay Center)
The Good Doctor (IMDB)
What Are the Different Types of Evaluations? (MGH Clay Center)
Genetic Testing for Autism (Autism Speaks)
A medical condition or just a difference? The question roils autism community (Washington Post)
Medical Conditions Associated with Autism (Autism Speaks)
Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents (MGH Center for Cross-Cultural Student Emotional Wellness)

Music by Gene Beresin

Episode edited by Joshua Eng

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

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Khadijah Booth Watkins, Associate Director

Khadijah Booth Watkins, MD, MPH, is associate director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and the Associate Director of the Child and...

To learn more about Khadijah, or to contact her directly, please see Our Team.

Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Gene Beresin, MD, MA is executive director of The MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and a staff child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also...

To learn more about Gene, or to contact him directly, please see Our Team.