The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual and Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) notes that there are different levels of autism. According to autism behavioral analysis, autism refers to a developmental disorder whose occurrence causes behavioral and social problems and affects communication skills. Statistics from the CDC reveal that for every 59 children born, one is on the autism spectrum. Although the symptoms of the condition start manifesting from childhood, many people may not receive a diagnosis until adulthood. In any case, targeted intervention for autism spectrum disorder provides the support needed for children with autism to grow happy and healthy.
The Levels of Autism
According to DSM-5, there are three levels of this condition:
Level 1 Autism: Requires Support
It’s the least severe of the three categories of autism diagnosis. People within this category exhibit social challenges that need some support from loved ones and family members.
They often find it challenging to start conversations in social settings and may respond inappropriately or lose interest fast.
Children on this level of the spectrum find it difficult to make friends, especially when they lack the right support. Also, level 1 autism can cause inflexible behaviors to changes in the environment. As such, they need someone to help them organize and plan as they tackle sudden changes.
Level 2 Autism: Requires Considerable Support
Level 2 is a more complicated form of autism. Those suffering from this degree of autism need more support as victims possess severe limitations.
Many individuals struggle to hold conversations and fail to respond appropriately, even when they have support. They tend to communicate in short and brief sentences, and their discussions often focus on one topic. Their deficit of verbal and non-verbal skills makes them lonely, especially in new environments where no one understands their problem.
The most common non-verbal issue that they face includes the inability to make eye contact when communicating with others. Inflexible behaviors are also common. As a result, they often suffer a great deal of distress due to their inability to cope with change.
Level 3 Autism: Requires the Highest Support
It’s the most acute of the three levels of autism. Lack of timely diagnosis and early intervention for autism facilitate the advancement of the condition to this stage—people who experience this level of autism display significant shortcomings in both verbal and non-verbal communication.
Children often refrain from interacting with others and will participate only in limited conversations. They respond when it’s necessary, or they wish to express a need.
Additionally, children in this category exhibit highly repetitive and inflexible behaviors. They often react strongly to changes and express high levels of distress when they confront situations that divert their focus.
Both adults and children also express narrow interests by desiring their conversations to revolve around specific topics.
Common Symptoms of Autism
Many children on the autism spectrum exhibit both social and behavioral symptoms, which cut across depending on the severity of the condition.
The most common symptoms include:
- Inappropriate responses to others
- Difficulty in starting and maintaining a conversation
- Facial expressions not matching communication context
- Inability to understand other people’s perspectives
- Obsession with specific topics
- More or less sensitive to sensory stimulation like noise
- Inability to cope with sudden changes
An autism diagnosis doesn’t require blood tests, scans, or imaging tests. Your healthcare provider will consider several factors in the examination, such as communication skills, behavioral problems, and other underlying or co-occurring issues.
A Final Word
Before you start treatment at an autism treatment center, therapists will ask you several questions about different aspects of your child’s social life. Diagnosis and appropriate autism spectrum disorder treatment programs will primarily depend on the severity of the condition; varying levels of autism require distinct management plans.
