Understanding Autism and Support Levels
Understanding Autism
Autism, referred to in diagnostic settings as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a lifelong and dynamic neurodevelopmental difference. Autistic people may experience, process and respond to the world differently from non-autistic people. Every autistic person has a unique combination of strengths, interests, preferences and support needs, which may vary across environments and over time.
Diagnostic criteria describe differences across two broad areas. These descriptions can help clinicians understand a person’s experiences and find supports that can make everyday life easier and improve their wellbeing:
- Social communication and interaction: Differences may include the use or interpretation of eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, body language, spoken language and other forms of communication. Autistic individuals may connect by sharing detailed information about an interest, offering a related personal experience or communicating in ways that differ from neurotypical individuals.
- Restricted Interests and Repetitive Behaviours: A person may have deep or highly focused interests and may use repeated movements, sounds, words, phrases, gestures or play patterns. These forms of repetition, sometimes called stimming, may support regulation, expression, enjoyment or concentration. Sensory differences may involve being sensitive to or seeking particular kinds of light, sound, touch, taste, smell or movement input.
Understanding Support Levels:
Level 1 – Requiring Support
Indicates the individual requires support in one or both diagnostic areas to a ‘mild’ degree. This may look like more intermittent support; the individual can navigate the world independently but may require occasional support and assistance.
Level 2 – Requiring Substantial Support
Indicates the individual requires substantial support in one or both diagnostic areas to a ‘moderate’ degree. This may look like more consistent support and environmental adjustments to support daily functioning.
Level 3 – Requiring Very Substantial Support
Indicates the individual requires very substantial or extensive support in one or both diagnostic areas. This may look like more consistent one-to-one support to facilitate daily functioning, complete day to day tasks, engage socially or navigate sensory experiences within the world.
Support levels are broad clinical descriptors rather than a complete picture of an individual. A person may need different levels of support across activities, environments or life stages. A diagnostic report may assign one support level across both diagnostic areas or different levels for each area. This is sometimes described as a single-level or split-level diagnosis. The examples below show how this wording may appear within a diagnostic report:
Single level:
CLEINT’s traits align with the diagnostic criteria in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder identifying Level 1 support needs in both social communication and interaction, and restricted interests and repetitive behaviours.
Split level:
CLEINT’s traits align with the diagnostic criteria in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder identifying Level 2 support needs in social communication and interaction, and Level 1 support needs in restricted interests and repetitive behaviours.
Note: Autism is a dynamic neurodevelopmental difference, and a person’s capacity and support needs may change depending on their environment, wellbeing, developmental stage or life transitions. If a person’s capacity or level of support need changes, they can undergo a relevelling process to understand what support need level their traits align best with to help clarify current support needs and guide responsive, individualised supports.
If you have questions about autism, are exploring a diagnosis or would like support to better understand your own or a loved one’s needs, our team is here to help. Contact our friendly reception team on 0477 798 932 to book an appointment.
Georgia Mason is a psychologist at Progressive Psychology.