Autism: levels, diagnosis and treatment

On World Autism Awareness Day understand possible levels, diagnoses and treatments.

Difficulties in social interaction, communication and behavior are the most common symptoms in a person with autism, a disorder that has gained more and more space for study and debate in society. Despite the greater number of contents disseminated on autism, there are still many doubts, anxieties and curiosities about the disorder which affects about two million people in Brazil and 2% of the world’s population. Among the topics that cause confusion within this topic, the types or levels of autism stand out. After all, does every person with autism always have the same symptoms? In this article, we’ll help you understand the types of autism, how diagnoses and treatments are made, and the care each case requires. Keep reading!

Autism: what is it?

Before we even delve into levels of autism, it’s important to know the definition of the disorder. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental mental disorder that primarily affects the ability to interact and communicate socially, causing difficulties in people’s speech and behavior. Autism is defined as a spectrum precisely because of the understanding that there is a diversity of symptoms and levels presented by people with the condition. That is, each autistic individual will exhibit a set of characteristics of their own.

How can TEA manifest itself?

According to CDI-11 – a manual organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) to offer a common language for healthcare professionals around the world to communicate about ailments, diseases, injuries and causes of death – autism is classified in three levels:

• Level 1: light – needs little support;
• Level 2: moderate – moderate need for support;
• Level 3: Severe – badly in need of substantial support

It is these three levels of autism that indicate the severity of the condition and what care is needed for the person with autism. Find out more about them!

Level 1

Considered as a light level, at the first level of the Autistic Spectrum the individual has difficulty in establishing social relationships, showing little interest in interacting with other people. Within this level, it is common that people do not cope well with sudden change of activities, also presenting with racing thoughts and problems that affect the individual’s organization. A person with Level 1 ASD can experience both communication and behavioral difficulties, which include symptoms such as:

• atypical response to social interaction;
• ability to speak in clear sentences and communicate, but having difficulty holding a conversation and making friends;
• inflexible behavior that interferes with general functioning in one or more contexts.

Level 2

Individuals with level 2 ASD exhibit greater severity in verbal and gestural communication, and are also highly affected in relation to social interactions. Considered a medium level of autism, within the second level people exhibit symptoms such as:

• limited initiation of social interaction;
• reduced response to social interactions;
• significant difficulties with verbal and nonverbal social communication skills;
• restricted or repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily functioning;
• difficulty shifting attention or action.

Level 3

The higher among the levels of autism, the third brings more serious damage to the individual’s communication, which is also affected in carrying out activities considered common in daily life. For people who are affected by level 3, symptoms such as:

• use few words and understandable speech;
• Unusual methods of meeting social needs and responding only to very direct approaches
• inflexible behavior;
• extreme difficulty coping with change;
• experience great distress when changing focus or activity.

Infant, juvenile and adult autism: signs and symptoms

Just as there are different levels of autism, the disorder too has its own different manifestations and symptoms within each age group. Because autism is both a developmental and behavioral disorder, it is most common for autism to be identified in childhood, often in the early years of life. However, this does not prevent the diagnosis from taking place only in adulthood, when the individual already has a greater wealth of experience. Therefore, it is important to understand how TEA affects children, youth and adults.

Signs and symptoms of autism in children

With impacts on social interactions, communication and behavior, childhood autism can lead to signs and symptoms such as:

• Don’t look into each other’s eyes even when someone talks to her;
• He does not like affection or affection and therefore does not allow himself to be hugged or kissed;
• Difficulty relating to other children;
• You always repeat the same things, sounds and words; always play with the same toys;
• Not wanting to communicate even if you can talk;
• He always has the same expression on his face and does not understand the gestures and facial expressions of others;
• Becomes extremely agitated when in public or in noisy environments
• Difficulty adapting to new routines
• Don’t be afraid of dangerous situations.

Signs and symptoms of autism in young people and adults

In young people and adults, autism tends to be mild, often going unnoticed in childhood. However, in adulthood, autism can bring signs and symptoms such as:

• Absence of friends: generally contact with people is limited to the family circle, school or virtual relationships via the internet;
• Avoid leaving the house: both for habitual activities, such as the use of public transport and services, and for leisure activities, always preferring solitary and sedentary activities;
• Difficulty with social interaction;
• Lack of autonomy.

How to diagnose autism?

The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder is made clinically. That is, a professional makes a direct analysis of the patient’s behavior, by the way he relates to the world. When the diagnosis is made in childhood, the parents also play a key role in this process, as they live with the child and are able to observe any signs of ASD. During adolescence, the main signs are related to social interactions, which usually present difficulties in interacting with people of the same age group and social cycle. Finally, in adulthood, the person himself can identify the signs of ASD and it is necessary to seek help from a psychiatrist, psychologist or neurologist. Whatever stage symptoms are noticed, it is important to know that the diagnosis must be made by a professional. People often tend to make diagnoses based on their perceptions or what they believe a certain disease is, but diagnosing ASD or any other disease is not that simple. As mentioned above, every person is unique. Therefore, each case must be studied and analyzed according to the needs of each individual.

Treatments and ways to care for people with autism

ASD is a condition that affects people’s neurodevelopment, once diagnosed by a professional, there are many possible treatments based on the level of autism. Among the treatments and possible ways to take care of a person with autism, it is possible to:

• Follow up with professionals to improve autism symptoms, such as speech therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists;
• Use dynamic treatment methodologies such as play therapy;
• Use medications to treat specific problems caused by autism.

Autism has no cure, but with the correct treatment and appropriate professional support, autistic people can evolve and develop skills often limited by ASD symptoms.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.