Different Levels of Autism

Before discussing further and going into the different levels of autism, let us get a brief idea of what is autism.

What is Autism?

Autism is a kind of psychological ailment that affects the functioning of the brain and reduces a child's power of self control. The child may show problems in communication, withdrawal from human contact, ritualistic behaviors, and wont have too many interests. It affects three times as many boys as girls, and is not a progressive disorder that worsens as the child grows bigger. Though its cause is unknown, it is believed to be hereditary. Some of the common symptoms observed in the child suffering from autism are:

• Repeated body movements like hand flapping, spinning objects, etc.
• Difficulty in making and maintaining eye contact.
• Walking on one's toes.
• Hyper sensitivity in one or more of the five senses.
• Echolalia, i.e. repeating other person's words like an echo.
• Deficits in verbal and non-verbal communications.
• Insensitivity to pain and no apparent fear of real danger.

Different Levels of Autism

Following are the different levels of autism, that help in analyzing the severity of this disorder.

Classical Autism
The symptoms of classical autism are usually recognized by the time child reaches three years of age. Once diagnosed, there are different methods that can be used to treat the disorder. Diet changes and proper care have been quite successful in treating classical autism.

Asperger Syndrome
Children suffering from Asperger syndrome are able to attend school, work in offices and live a normal life. They are considered to be highly functioning and may be extremely talented in distinct fields like arts, music, drama, etc. The most common problem associated with this condition include social and communication skills as the children may struggle in establishing relationships with their compeers. They may have speech difficulties and often experience problems in distinguishing literal and figurative statements.

Kanner's Syndrome
Kanner's syndrome is also known as early infantile autism which occurs before the age of three, and has typical autism symptoms. The child may appear unaware of his surroundings and may focus particularly on one or two objects only. He may be unable to make eye contact with people around him and may not respond to standard communication efforts.

Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome is mainly associated with females, as in males the syndrome dies before birth or shortly after. Initially, the child development or growth is normal, but after 16 to 18 months the development appears to reverse. Children may start losing control over their hands and feet, and their motor skills may also revert. Speech delays or a loss of verbal skills are the commonly observed symptoms in girls.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
The symptoms of childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD) are usually observed between the year of two and four. The condition leads to disintegration of physical, verbal, mental and social abilities. The child may withdraw from his normal behavior and lose the ability to communicate with people around him.

Pervasive Disintegrative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
A diagnosis of the PDD is primarily made when the symptoms do not fall within any of the existing specific categories of autism. The typical symptoms include difficulty in interacting socially and problems communicating with others.

Hence, understanding the different levels of autism will help in diagnosing and treating the disorder properly. If diagnosed early, autism can be treated and some characteristics can be lessened or even eliminated. The treatment programs mainly concentrate on the child's communication skills, teaching functional living skills and implementing parent and staff training.