No - 'high-functioning autism' is no longer used as a UK diagnosis. The NHS folds all subtypes into one autism spectrum diagnosis and describes support needs instead, though some adults still use the term.
What changed in the diagnosis
Autism used to be split into separate labels, including Asperger syndrome and 'high-functioning autism'. The two manuals UK clinicians work from removed those subtypes: the American DSM-5 in 2013 and the World Health Organisation's ICD-11 in 2019, when Asperger syndrome was folded into the single category 'autism spectrum disorder'. ICD-11 is the classification the NHS in England is moving to as its information standard, so a child or adult assessed today receives one autism diagnosis, not a graded version of it.
Where the old labels described how 'well' someone appeared to cope, the current approach describes what support a person needs. DSM-5 sets out three levels (requiring support, substantial support, or very substantial support), and a report may note where someone needs more or less help. The point is that needs can change with setting, stress and age, so a fixed 'high' or 'low' label is no longer seen as accurate.
Why you still see the term
'High-functioning' lingers for three reasons. People diagnosed before the change may keep using it about themselves, which is their choice. Some schools, employers and older reports still use it informally. And it remains common in the US and online. The National Autistic Society notes the autism community largely avoids functioning labels because they can hide real struggles - someone who masks well at school may face burnout, shutdowns or meltdowns at home - and can be used to dismiss a person's needs ("you don't look autistic").
What this means for you
If you are seeking an assessment, you cannot ask for, or be refused, a 'high-functioning autism' assessment specifically - the pathway leads to one autism diagnosis. What matters for school, the NHS and benefits is the description of your child's needs, not the label. Dropping the term does not weaken anyone's rights: an autism diagnosis carries the same protection under the Equality Act 2010 whatever words were once attached to it.
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.