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What level am I?

UsrUnknown

How do I know what level I am? it doesn't mention it in my report. I see people on this forum sometimes mentioning it.

If it helps in my report it mentions the following..

OVERALL ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION
The full assessment concluded that (Name) does meet the criteria for Autistic Spectrum

Disorder in line with the DSM-5 due to:

  1. Persistent difficulties in social communication and social interaction across contexts and manifested by all three of the following:

    1. Difficulties in social-emotional reciprocity
    2. Difficulties in nonverbal communicative behaviours used for social interaction 3. Difficulties in developing and maintaining relationships and friendships

  2. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activities as manifested by the following:

1. Excessive adherence to routines, ritualised patterns of verbal or nonverbal behaviour, or excessive resistances to change.

2. Highly restricted, fixated interest that are atypical in intensity or focus
3. Hyper or hypo reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment.

The evidence highlighted that these difficulties have been present since early childhood.

Conclusions from the ADI-R

The score summary for the ADI-R indicates that (Name) scores above the cut-off point in all key areas, including “Qualitative Abnormalities in Reciprocal Social Interaction”, “Qualitative Abnormalities in Communication” and “Restricted Repetitive Stereotyped Patterns of Behaviour”. Scores are, therefore, indicative of ASD.

  • in reply to Plastic

    Same here. My ASD symptoms are WAY WAY WAY worse when I have slept really badly instead of just badly.  I also think some of the other more severe symptoms they blame on autism are actually down to learning disabilities in more severe cases like not being able to dress yourself or cook your own dinner. 

  • in reply to BigDonnyP

    Yes - sometimes I appear to be functioning perfectly - but in certain situations, I cannot function at all.     I could be categorised anywhere on the spectrum depending on what was going on for me at the time of observation.

  • The question itself is confusing.

    Unfortunately I don’t have my records (I was diagnosed when living in Hull and my NHS records for those 3 years are”missing”) so cannot compare side by side however I would say many people with ASC are a bit spiked insofar that they may be able in someways, disadvantaged in another and to varying degrees, depending on what else is happening in life. Some times I am academically bright, organised, intricately verbal and charismatically masking like a pro; at other times I cannot talk, won’t remember to eat or wash, cannot stop crying, will have toilet issues... I am always me and some days you could say I am hardly noticeably autistic and at other times I need support and help as I cannot cope then.

    Levels aren’t useful as people, us and NTs are complex and wonderful beasts

  • My very detailed report states ASD and then adds High Functioning. I think this is roughly equal to Level 1, but I'm sure there is some fluidity about it; my condition has always fluctuated.

  • The support level isn't the diagnosis, it's a suggestion to level of support the professional who diagnosed believes you may need. Typically those who are given support level 1 will often tend to fluctuate between level 1 and level 2 for support needs.      

  • My report has the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder with recommendations on things to support me. I never worried too much about the "level", although I've head of the term being used.

    From what I know the levels are  linked to three "severity levels" of autism  in the DSM 5 and range from requiring support (1) to  requiring substantial support (3). From my personal view (and I'm not a clinician) these definitions and what they cover are really very general - and aren't  all that helpful.

    I preferred my psychologists approach which was to give specific pointers in my report which I can use with work. A general "requiring support" of whatever level is next to useless because my employer still needs specifics to know how to support me. I'm biased in the sense I hate this type of categorisation - although I know it's useful in medical circles. 

  • the levels are not very useful and can be cause of quite a bit of upset.   i mean a person abilities range widely across different tasks so u could level 2 at getting food ready ( cooking ) but level 1 at mathematical problems.   Please dont worry about levels. My report did not mention levels. Some reports do, some dont, because they can be upsetting.