The Three Levels of Autism

What Are the Different Types of Autism?

There is only one “type” of autism. As discussed in a section below, high-functioning autism was originally called Asperger’s syndrome. One of the reasons the DSM-5 removed the diagnosis is that they didn’t want the general public thinking that there was a second type of autism.

It is important to note that it wasn’t until 2013 when the DSM-5 was first published that clinicians used to think that an individual was either autistic or they had ADHD and not potentially having both. This is because they have very similar skill deficits. A person who is living with ADHD struggles with recognizing and appropriately responding to social cues; they may struggle to regulate themselves well and may fall apart rather quickly, they may hyperfocus on a topic or an activity, and may even drop that special interest for something new entirely. 

Thus, it can be very helpful to have a neuropsych assessment completed. A doctor-level psychologist would then assess the individual with a battery of tests as well as interview the individual and the family in order to tease out what mental health challenges the person is coping with to provide an accurate diagnosis that fits the individual’s lived experience. 

The doctor would also provide recommendations to make life easier for that individual so they pick up skills more easily.

What Are the 3 Levels of Autism? What Is Level 2 Autism?

Autism is a form of neurodivergence, and it runs on a spectrum. Autism is noted for having:

• Social impairments
• Rigidity in thinking (such as black-and-white thinking, or things being all-or-nothing)
• Potential developmental delays (such as beginning to talk at a later time when compared to one’s peers)
• Regression (the person was able to care for themselves but then “loses” some of their skills)
• Sensory issues (such as clothing having to be a certain type or have a certain feel, such as only wearing technical shirts due to preferring tight clothing)
• Food issues due to textures
• Noise sensitivity
• Light sensitivity such as fluorescent light

Individuals with autism may also stim (making repetitive movements or behaviors), such as rocking back and forth, or hand flapping. We all stim in varying degrees when we listen to a playlist on repeat, going on a run, knitting, or even rubbing a worry stone.

Among the levels of autism, many individuals have special interests that they research and engage in frequently, almost to the exclusion of everything else. This is where the stereotype of autistic children being considered “little scientists” comes from, as many (not all) have a special interest in science.

There also tends to be a degree of anxiety in an autism diagnosis. As such, they typically rely on rules to organize their world and keep things as predictable as possible. So when those rules get broken or are deviated from, this tends to lead to them experiencing some anxiety or they may even tantrum (this is sometimes called an autistic meltdown).

What Are the Differences Between the 3 Different Levels of Autism?

The DSM-5 considers there to be 3 different levels of autism that try to capture that spectrum. They are as follows:

• Level 1: This is considered “high functioning” autism. Individuals on this level need no to little support. They have, in general, an easy or easier time making and maintaining friendships. They can care for themselves with no to minimal issues and can be independent across situations. Many individuals on this level can “pass” or “mask” as “normal” due to their being able to use their skills well.
• Level 2: This is considered “moderate functioning” autism. Individuals on this level need some support in most, if not all, situations. They have a wide range of social and coping skills, but they may struggle with the implementation of those skills.
  These individuals can usually talk about their internal experiences, but they may not be aware of everything going on in the background around them. These individuals may be aware that they are different from their peers, but may not be able to fully explain why they feel that way.
• Level 3: This is considered to be “low functioning” autism. This tends to be the stereotype of what some folks think when they hear the word “autism:” children who sit in the corner, play with their toys in a limited manner, and are non-verbal.They tend to be content to be in their own world and show no to little interest in others, and they may only prefer their family. They tend to be very rigid about situations and may struggle when they need to be flexible, such as taking a different route home due to traffic which then leads to them complaining that they’re “going the wrong way.” They may also have very limited communication skills as they may heavily script, or repeat certain phrases that they’ve heard, over and over again and may even use those scripts inappropriately. They may need a communication device to help them communicate. They frequently need a moderate to a high level of support across settings in order to successfully navigate them.

It is important to note that the challenges described above typically describe autistic boys. As such, autistic girls typically have an easier time “passing,” as girls, as a whole, are socialized to carry the weight of social interaction.

What Are the Differences Between the 3 Different Levels of Autism?

Asperger’s syndrome was named after Hans Asperger, who is rather infamous for being a eugenicist in Nazi Germany as well as being one of the first individuals to discuss autism. Doctors, therapists, and psychologists diagnosed children with Asperger’s syndrome as a way to describe children who have autistic traits and have little to no support needed. 

Part of the reason why “Asperger’s syndrome” isn’t used anymore is to distance the autism diagnosis away from a Nazi collaborator, the other reason being to make it clear that there isn’t a separate type of autism. An individual who was originally diagnosed with Asperger’s would now be considered to have “level 1” autism.