What is your level of Autism?

[ksheehan88]

Originally I was diagnosed Aspergers with comorbid
anxiety disorder.

Now with the new levels it is getting confusing.
They seem to be rating verbal development then
intellectual and finally executive functioning.
From reading how it is now being done I would be
Level 1 yet there are parts of level 2 that fit.
Had no problem with speech development,
yet initiating speech with others is poor.
Intellectual development was above normal.
Then the word 'support' and the amount needed is now
in there. And what exactly does it mean?

I found this article on the changes and it also reads
that especially the word support is vague.

What Are the 3 Levels of Autism?

If anyone would like to read about the new levels.
This is a short but to the point read.

I don't think I got given a "level", just Asperger Syndrome.

Is this something that doesn't happen in the UK then?

 

[Judge]

I don't think I got given a "level", just Asperger Syndrome.

Is this something that doesn't happen in the UK then?

Depends on whatever protocols medical professionals are using these days. Sad to see any of them gravitate towards the DSM-V though. Or any other protocols that may involve such distinctions.

I like the nebulous understanding of autism in terms of a spectrum of traits and behaviors. However the three diagnostic levels that are used with the DSM-V, that I don't like at all. Where they can be potentially used to filter out people in the diagnostic process in a manner not present with the DSM-IV.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

Depends on whatever protocols medical professionals are using these days. Sad to see any of them gravitate towards the DSM-V though. Or any other protocols that may involve such distinctions.

I like the nebulous understanding of autism in terms of a spectrum of traits and behaviors. However the three diagnostic levels that are used with the DSM-V, that I don't like at all. Where they can be potentially used to filter out people in the diagnostic process in a manner not present with the DSM-IV.

A way of speaking in London,they drop the "H"

That would make you F.A.

 

[Thinx]

Freakin' Amazing?

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

Freakin' Amazing?

Then there's S.F.A

 

[Thinx]

Super Freakin Amazing...?

 

[the_tortoise]

In broad strokes (defining people into two categories as either high functioning or low functioning, mild or severe), I'm high functioning or mild. Beyond that I don't know.

I was diagnosed before severity levels and the only mentioning of "functioning" in my diagnostic report was carefully stated to make it clear that "high functioning" was a reference to testable cognitive abilities/IQ.

For my own perspective, I can compare myself to specific individuals that I encounter and to specific groups of individuals that encounter in terms of specific, concrete (or observable) areas of ability/symptoms/traits; I can't generalize beyond that to any kind of singular linear scale and I don't see how to average out all the parts of my autism......

My level of severity/ability is different from one symptoms/trait/skill to the next and changes with context. All I can say with certainty is that I'm not the most severely affected nor am I "low functioning".

I also can't see myself as others might see me....really I don't see myself at all, because I am myself....this limits my ability to assess my own presentation of autism as it compares to the presentations of others.

Also, how are you supposed to figure out where you fit into things and find the average of something that isn't quantified, has no consistent, clearly and concretely defined units of measurement? Nobody ever attempts to quantify severity or functioning levels properly outside of the IQ score definition. Attaching numbers to subjective qualitative descriptions like "substantial" "significant" "minimal" "moderate" "severe" "mild" "often" "sometimes" and "rarely" does not magically make those numbers into real, measurable quantities. (Examples of adding in real units of measurement, real quantification, would be things like "Engages in [repetitive movement/stimming] for [x minutes/hours] per day, [x days] per week" or "Requires support with daily living skills/self-care/social functioning [level 3:] at least once per day vs. [level 2:] at least once per week vs. [level 1:] at least once per month"). Everyone has their own idea of what these descriptive words and descriptive numbered categories mean and there is enough variation in interpretation among clinicians (and even more variation among laypersons) to make the application of the severity levels/functioning levels very inconsistent -- especially given the complexity of what is being "measured".

 

[Thinx]

I am self diagnosed but I would say high functioning / level 1.

However I d prefer to say differently functioning, and start being specific about where the environment and systems could be differently designed to help me. For example multiple signs that dont adequately inform are confusing, I regularly get confused when visiting new places til I know which signs I can ignore eg Break to open door in an Emergency, also Push door to open plus other signage on a door ,if I ve never been out that door I can't tell if I can go thru it. Same on buses, in new areas, what are the rules to pay, to get on and off?

I muddle through and I like to explore but the environment could be more user friendly, it's great having signs saying this organisation is Autism friendly but for example recently I spent a huge amount of time and effort just finding the door at a training venue and yes when I finally got in it was displaying signs about it's autism friendliness but I may never have seen them...

 

[VioletHaze_03]

The cute, funny, relatable one, according to society. All i know is that i'm very high functioning, but i've never actually been diagnosed with anything. My doctor has only agreed with my theories so far. I'm not official yet because i can carry out a conversation and mimic other kids until i actually have to use social skills at a deeper level, and still have melt-downs, sensory issues, and social impairment. Also the empathy thing? yeah i don't have any. I'm looking into PDA (persistent demand avoidance syndrome) because it sounds a lot like me, but i can't say what i am for sure. Being a teenaged girl adds a whole other level of confusion. I used to have an obscure learning disability, so i guess i leveled up over the years

 

[UberScout]

For me, there's a "scale" of Autism. In my case, depending on the trigger source, panic-anger happens on a moving scale.

I shall explain that scale.

Anger

Level 1 - Mildly annoyed. Stop that.
Level 2 - A little aggravated. "Dude, I said stop."
Level 3 - Kind of angry. "Hey? Knock it off already!"
Level 4 - Mad. "I told you to stop!!"
Level 5 - Really flustered. "Just get away from me!!"
Level 6 - Combat Mode active. "Bro, you wanna go?!"
Level 7 - Seething Mad!! "AARRGH!"
Level 8 - RAGE! "Why won't you leave me and my family alone?!"
Level 9 - ASCENSION - "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH"
Final - You'd better run.

 

[Ezra]

Medium rare with a side of potato salad. Er I mean moderate.

 

[GrownupGirl]

I really hate the functioning and level labels.

 

[Mary Anne]

Depends on whatever protocols medical professionals are using these days. Sad to see any of them gravitate towards the DSM-V though. Or any other protocols that may involve such distinctions.

I like the nebulous understanding of autism in terms of a spectrum of traits and behaviors. However the three diagnostic levels that are used with the DSM-V, that I don't like at all. Where they can be potentially used to filter out people in the diagnostic process in a manner not present with the DSM-IV.

I would not worry about that, as doctors routinely use NOS (not otherwise specified) when a diagnosis is not cookie cutter exact to the DSM descriptions. Happens ALL the time. Many people also have other diagnosis co-mmingled together also. I have encountered assessments with people having 3 or 4 diagnosis.

What will happen in the future, will be the splitting and making more detailed, various nuances within the spectrum. This will be much better, but it will take a decade or more before happens.

 

[Mark Smith]

I haven’t been formally diagnosed yet but I assume that I’m Asperger’s/High-Functioning