Breaking Down the Autism Diagnosis: A Simple Guide
3 Minute Read
An autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming at first, so let’s break it down in a simple, approachable way.
According to the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), autism is identified by differences in two main areas:
Social communication and interaction
Restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities
So, what does that mean in practice? To receive a diagnosis, a person must show:
Differences in all three of the following areas:
Social-emotional reciprocity
(things like back-and-forth conversation, sharing interests or emotions, and responding to social cues)Nonverbal communication used in social settings
(such as using and interpreting gestures, body language, eye contact, and facial expressions)Developing and maintaining relationships
(for example, adapting to different social situations, engaging in imaginative play, or making and keeping friends)
And at least two of the following behaviors:
Repetitive movements, speech patterns, or use of objects
Strong preference for routines or sameness in daily life
Deep, focused interests that may seem unusually intense or specific
Heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input (like sound, texture, lights, or smells)
Now, let’s talk about support levels.
Autism exists on a spectrum, which means each person’s support needs can vary. Professionals use the following levels to describe how much daily support someone may benefit from.
Level 3—Requires very substantial support
Level 2—Requires substantial support
Level 1—Requires support
It’s important to remember that these levels are meant to help guide care and support, not to define a person’s potential or limit their opportunities.
So, while a diagnosis offers a helpful framework, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Autism includes a wide range of characteristics, and each individual experiences the world in their own unique way.
You might’ve heard the phrase: “If you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.” And it’s true, every individual is different.
Understanding the diagnostic criteria is just one part of the picture, what matters most is recognizing the individuality and humanity of each autistic person.
~Chloe