Many parents of children with autism often ask the question: “How serious is my child’s autism? How can I determine whether my child has mild or severe autism?” Today, let’s briefly discuss this topic.
Autism is a mental disorder, also known as “pervasive developmental disorder,” that typically manifests before the age of three. It can be roughly classified into mild (high-functioning), moderate (medium-functioning), and severe (low-functioning) based on the degree of severity. Parents can formulate corresponding interventions for their children based on their unique conditions.
Below are specific distinctions between mild and severe autism:
1. Intellectual Level
Mild Autism: The intellect may be normal or near normal, with the individual potentially experiencing certain deficiencies in learning and work abilities, but usually not too severe.
Severe Autism: The intellectual level may be low, with poor ability to learn new things, leading to greater difficulties in academic and daily life.
2. Social Skills
Mild Autism: Although there are social barriers, the child still has a desire to interact with others, just in somewhat unusual ways that are often unsuccessful.
Severe Autism: Social skills are severely impaired, with minimal social interaction and no response to others or external social signals. Additionally, the individual often displays strange behaviors during interactions with others.
3. Language Skills
Mild Autism: Language development is delayed, but basic communication is possible; there are certain impairments in language comprehension and usage, often communicating through repetitive and stereotyped content.
Severe Autism: Language comprehension is severely impaired, expression is limited, and there may be regression in language skills, simplistic speech content, and poor logical connections. Some children may even completely lose their ability to speak.
4. Behavioral Presentation
Mild Autism: Behavior may lack flexibility, making it difficult to switch activities or respond to changes in different situations. However, there are usually no extreme or dangerous behaviors.
Severe Autism: Behaviors are often rigid and repetitive, potentially engaging in long-term, repetitive play with non-toy items. If attempts are made to correct the individual’s behavior, this may lead to crying, resistance, and other reactions. Additionally, aggressive behaviors or self-harm may occur.
Of course, whether autism is mild or severe should not be underestimated. When parents notice unusual behaviors or language in their child, they should immediately seek scientific medical advice and conduct an examination. Once the child is diagnosed with autism, it is
