Published on 12, July, 2020
One thing I've always struggled with since being on this forum and understanding more about autism, is the fact that levels are no longer used.
I understand the idea of the spectrum and that we can all shoot off at angles and pick up where something affects us deeply.
However, levels were to do with the amount of support required, so how much a person's functionality is impacted by autism.
Level 1, 'Asperger's Syndrome', 'high functioning' were for people who had what was then termed as 'mild' autism.
I realise that 'mild' probably isn't appropriate for us.
However, there are threads on this forum relating to a 'solution' for autism and 'acceptance'.
I can answer for myself and my own struggles but I feel sometimes that the people who are without speech (some of whom I think are actually on this forum, from reading profiles), who cannot live independently without support, are not taken into account.
This is a reason why I actually find it quite hard to answer these questions, because I see myself as 'level 1', high functioning and I can't answer for people whose lives are so very deeply impacted by their autism and their carers.
I would say that ASD lvl 1, represents those autists that have the minimum impact on functioning, and maximum sparing of intellect and language abilities. That’s not a firm statement its the product of my best dead-reckoning..:)
DeSpereaux said:sparing of intellect and language abilities
I don't think it's so much a matter of sparing these, as it is that these can be part of our spiky profile and being at either end of a bell curve. It seems that ND people are more likely than the general population to either have learning difficulties or to be a mensa level genius; are more likely to be either dyslexic or hyperlexic, non-verbal or talking too much (whether the ADHD chatterbox thing or the overwhelming urge to infodump).
It's possible to have learning difficulties combined with very high intellectual ability. I do very well at verbal and numerical based tests , but I'm all over the place when it comes to fluid intelligence. I'm low average at mental rotation, very probably due to having object and spatial aphantasia. On the other hand I'm borderline Mensa level when it comes to pattern recognition.It's not at all easy to talk about a mix of very high IQ, combined with far less ability at daily manual/practical tasks ( adaptive functioning < IQ) . Many people will think you're b*ll***tt**g them if you talk about doing very well on psychometrician based tests of intellectual ability, but needing support in order to maintain an acceptable level of independent living. I have been care act assessed and my daughter(not blood related, but we see ourselves as father and daughter) has had a carer's assessment. For the vast majority of my time as a psych patient I've been seen in a negative light for not fitting the expected pattern of 'good at x, good at y/bad at x,bad at y'. It's only through moving to be near my daughter , and her having painted an accurate picture as to how things are to mental health services here in Wiltshire(prior to my moving) that things have changed for the better. . It's great to be treated in a caring,non aggressive, and polite manner, but much damage has been done that can't be reversed.
firemonkey said: Many people will think you're b*ll***tt**g them if you talk about doing very well on psychometrician based tests of intellectual ability, but needing support in order to maintain an acceptable level of independent living.
So true.I get "but you have 126 IQ", "but you can drive 4 different kinds of vehicles", etc, but none of that means my executive function doesn't fall apart in other areas of my life.