When most of us come across or hear the word “autism”, our minds picture most often a child who is probably non-verbal and has low social skills. However, autism is actually a spectrum, and most people (children and adults alike) may be diagnosed as having either mild or severe autism.
There are actually 3 autism levels, according to the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual).
ASD Level 1- People diagnosed on this level are usually labelled as “high functioning”. They require less support, especially with communication and social skills. On this level, the autistic person may not understand social cues, including body language, and may have a hard time communicating appropriately. They may be verbal—speaking in full sentences but may not conform to the rules of language—they say what they think needs to be said without consideration for other people’s feelings and the social environment. They may also have problems making and keeping friends. They have difficulties with sudden changes in routine and plans.
ASD LEVEL 2– this diagnosis means that the child or adult requires substantial support. They may have more obvious difficulties with language, communication, and social cues than those on level 1. On this level, the child may have repetitive behaviours and narrow interests and can be very rigid (not flexible) with regards to patterns, activities and daily routines as compared to level 1. These interests and behaviours make it difficult for them to function in certain situations. They tend to speak using simple phrases and sentences and have difficulties with non-verbal communication.
ASD LEVEL 3– this is the most severe form of autism. People on this level require a lot of support. People on this level have difficulties with all forms of language and communication (both verbal and non-verbal) and this makes independence very challenging. Their ability to speak clearly and interact socially is challenged.
It is interesting to note that the symptoms presented by each person on a particular level are not the same. Each person is unique in their own way, regardless of whether they are diagnosed to be on the same level or not.
References:
Gans, S. and Rudy, L. J. (2022). Understanding the Three Levels of Autism
Lane Regional Medical Center (2021). The 3 Levels of Autism Explained
Gilmore, H. (2019). Levels of Autism: Understanding the Different Types of ASD