LEVELS OF AUTISM: all you need to know
Autism is a clinical condition that is classified into three distinct levels: autism level 1 autism, autism level 2, and autism level 3.
However, discussing autism in terms of these three levels is a simplified way of explaining this categorization, as the topic is more complex than that.
Índice
In this article, we will explain in more detail what exactly the levels of autism entail.
These 3 autism levels are distinguished from each other based on the severity of the symptoms and the amount of assistance the person requires for their daily development, with level 1 being the mildest and level 3 being the most severe.
However, as we will see in this article, the levels of autism are not as simple or clear-cut as they may seem.
⚡ The 3 levels of autism
The levels of autism are a categorization that generates a lot of confusion, as they are poorly defined and often it is not clear in which level each person with ASD is situated.
In fact, it is so imprecise that autism levels are often not used in clinical practice.
Therefore, many professionals do not specify the level of autism of the person due to the lack of precision of these categories.
However, we consider it important to understand what we mean when we talk about the levels or grades of autism.
What are the levels of autism?
The 3 degrees or levels of autism are organized according to the levels of support or help that the person needs:
| Level 1 | Needs support |
| Level 2 | Needs substantial support |
| Level 3 | Needs very substantial support |
Therefore, the levels reflect the amount of help that a person with autism needs for their daily development.
Thus, indirectly, the levels also reflect the severity of the person’s autism, since the more severe it is, the more supports the person will need.
The level of a person with autism can vary over time, since the amount of help that a person with autism needs can be different at each stage of their life.
For example, a child with autism may be at level 2 during their childhood but move to level 1 when they are an adult due to good intervention and good developmental progress.
Why divide autism into 3 levels?
The reason why autism was divided into 3 levels was because ASD can present in very diverse ways.
Therefore, autism can present with different degrees of severity: from very mild autism to severe autism with intellectual disability.
Thus, it was for this reason that this categorization by grades was decided upon, with the objective of reflecting the severity level of the person’s autism.
The imprecision of the levels of autism
This classification by levels of autism is described in the DSM-5 Manual of Mental Disorders, which, along with the ICD-11, are the two reference manuals in mental health.
But the DSM-5 manual itself is imprecise in the description of each of the levels and this can generate a lot of confusion.
For this reason, when making a diagnosis of autism, it is sometimes difficult to know which level the person falls into.
The levels of autism are so poorly defined that in clinical practice, the level of autism is often not detailed in the diagnosis.
Therefore, in the diagnosis, professionals normally only use the concept of autism, without specifying the level, because it is not clear at which level the person would be placed.
💥 There are no levels of autism: there are levels in each area of autism
The complexity of autism levels is that technically there is no person with autism level 1, level 2, or level 3.
There is no such thing because the levels are not attributed to autism, but rather they are attributed to the core areas of autism, which are the following:
- Social Communication Restricted
- Repetitive Behaviors
Therefore, the levels are not attributed to autism in general. The levels are attributed to these two main areas that are affected in people with autism.
Thus, a person can have autism at Level 2 in Social Communication and Level 1 in Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors.
For example, we can talk about a person with autism who needs requires very substantial support (level 3) in the area of Social Communication and requires substantial support (level 2) in the area of Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors.
It is for this reason that we technically do not refer to, for example, a person with autism level 2.
🤔 How do we determine which level of autism a person falls into?
The three levels of autism areas are poorly defined and unclear. So how does a professional decide which level each person with autism falls into?
The answer to this question lies in the descriptions of the following dropdowns taken from the DSM-5 manual:
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION area
Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to- and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.
Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.
Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches
RESTRICTED AND REPETITIVE BEHAVIORS area
Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.
Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.
Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.
🔵 Are there no general levels of autism?
Although we do not use general levels to define a person’s autism, we do use other concepts.
To define the overall severity of autism, we use concepts such as mild autism, moderate autism, or severe autism.
Therefore, through these three concepts, we can place the person on the spectrum based on the severity of autism that this person presents.
And although it is not correct, many professionals use the concepts of level 1, level 2, and level 3 autism to refer to the overall severity of autism, when technically it should be used to refer to the levels of the autism areas.
But while this is not correct, sometimes it is used to give a general idea of the overall level of support that a person with autism needs.
🏷️ The levels of autism are just words, labels
The 3 possible levels in the areas of Social Communication and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors, as well as using expressions such as Severe, Moderate, or Mild Autism, are only concepts to classify and give us an idea of the autism that a person has.
Therefore, beyond the labels that can or cannot be applied, the most important thing when making an autism diagnosis is to define the difficulties and characteristics of the person very well.
Autism can present itself in such varied ways that it is essential to make a diagnosis as descriptive as possible.
It is very important to know and understand the diagnosed person well in order to give them the necessary support, beyond the formal labels that are applied.
❓ FAQS about AUTISM LEVELS
How do you know if you are autistic?
There are several tests and assessments used to determine if a person has autism. The most commonly used tests for autism diagnosis are the M-CHAT-R, ADOS-2, and ADI-R.
What is level 3 autism?
Level 3 autism is the highest level of severity within the three levels that classify the severity of ASD. People with level 3 autism require very significant assistance for their daily functioning.
What is autism level 1?
In simplified terms, people with a diagnosis of level 1 autism exhibit mild characteristics of autism. These are individuals who require minimal support for their daily functioning.
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