Embarking on the journey of parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be a challenging and enlightening experience. If you find yourself questioning whether your child may have level 2 ASD or have recently received a diagnosis, it is important to understand that there is tailored support and information available to directly address your child’s unique needs. Recognizing the signs and nuances of a level 2 ASD diagnosis is crucial for parents, caregivers, and professionals alike.
As parents, you may wonder what symptoms to expect, whether level 2 can be cured, or what the prognosis will be for your child. This article will provide insight into Level 2 ASD, its characteristics and challenges, the diagnostic process, and effective treatment options.
What is Level 2 Autism?
ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts how individuals communicate, socialize, behave, and learn. Individuals diagnosed with ASD experience varying levels of severity. The levels are characterized by assessing two areas of functioning: social communication and repetitive or restrictive patterns of behavior.
There are three levels of ASD, that reflect the amount of support an individual needs. They also allow doctors and other professionals to provide a more detailed diagnosis, leading to more effective and appropriate treatment plans and allowing parents to understand their child’s needs better.
Level 1 is the mildest form of ASD. These individuals can often participate in mainstream settings with minimal support. However, they struggle with understanding social cues, engaging in back-and-forth conversations, and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Individuals with level 1 ASD may also experience some inflexible behaviors such as difficulty transitioning between activities.
Level 2 ASD is characterized as somewhat severe and individuals at this level require substantial support when compared to level 1. These individuals have difficulty communicating verbally and nonverbally. Some will speak in short sentences or only communicate about special interests. They have difficulty providing eye contact and may walk away during conversations or have abnormal responses to social cues. The level of inflexibility is more pronounced than level 1 with displays of marked distress when dealing with changes in routines. Repetitive behaviors also occur more frequently and are noticeable to the layperson.
Level 3 is the most severe and individuals require very substantial support. This level is characterized by severe challenges in social communication, with some individuals being nonverbal or only having the use of a few understandable words. There is limited social interaction which can be depicted as abnormal or having the sole purpose of meeting their needs. At this level, restrictive or repetitive behaviors interfere with daily living.
Autism Level 2 Symptoms
Symptoms of ASD typically fall under three classifications: language and communication impairment, social impairment, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors including sensory sensitivities. The symptoms present and their severity will be different in everyone diagnosed with ASD.
The signs of ASD include the following:
Ø Avoid eye contact from as early as 3 to 6 months old.
Ø No response to name by 9 months old.
Ø Lack of facial expressions, such as happy or sad, by 9 months old.
Ø Does not play interactive games, such as peek-a-boo, by 9 months old.
Ø Uses few or no hand gestures, such as waving, by 12 months old.
Ø Does not share interests with others, like showing you their favorite toy, by 15 months old.
Ø Does not point to show you something they are interested in by 18 months old.
Ø Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 2 years old.
Ø Does not engage in parallel play by 2 years old.
Ø Does not notice other children or engage in interactive play by 3 years old.
Ø Does not pretend to be someone else or engage in imaginary play by 4 years old.
Ø Does not sing, act, or dance for you by 5 years old.
How is Level 2 Autism Diagnosed?
There are two phases of diagnosing children with ASD. The first phase is screening, which should be conducted during routine wellness visits with healthcare providers. All children should be routinely screened for developmental delays and disorders at their 9-month, 18-month, and 24-month checkups and specifically for ASD at their 18-month and 24-month checkups. Additional screening may be recommended for children who are considered high risk for ASD, such as siblings of a child diagnosed with ASD or premature babies.
Screening tools include:
l Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) – This is a general development screening tool that includes a parent questionnaire covering communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal adaptive skills.
l Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS) – This is a one-page, parent-completed, standardized screening tool covering communication and symbolic abilities up to 24 months of age.
l Parent’s Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) – This is a general development screening tool for development and behavioral problems that need further evaluation.
l Modified Checklist for Autism In Toddlers (MCHAT) – This is a parent-completed questionnaire designed to identify children who are at risk for ASD.
l Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT) – This is an interactive screening tool that consists of assessing play, communication, and imitation skills.
Many of the above screening tools include parent reports. It is important to involve parents and other family members in the screening process as research has shown they are a reliable source of information. The child’s behavior, development, and family history should be discussed with the parent or caregiver.
While screening tools provide useful information regarding developmental delays they do not always result in diagnoses. If a child receives a positive screening result, they move to the second phase of the diagnostic process which is a thorough assessment. These are conducted by neurodevelopmental or developmental-behavioral pediatricians, psychologists, child neurologists, and speech and language pathologists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1:Is Autism Level 2 a Disability?
A1:Level 2 ASD is considered a disability due to the impact it has on daily life, the level of interference with learning, and the requirement of substantial support.
Q2:Is Autism Level 2 Curable?
A2:There is no cure for any level of ASD, as it is a life-long disorder. The goal of treatment is not to cure ASD, it is to provide individuals with the tools needed to manage their symptoms and improve their ability to function in multiple environments.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, parents should be the first to notice that their children's growth process is different from that of other children. Newborn babies begin to be interested in people's faces within one or two months after birth. At two or three months, they should know how to look people in the eye and smile. At four or five months, they know their own names and will respond when they are called. Children around one year old should be able to use their fingers and eyes to express what they want, and around eighteen months old they should be able to play imaginative games such as cooking.
Children have different personalities and development, and sometimes they may show suspicious symptoms in the early stages of growth, causing parents to worry. If in doubt, you should communicate with a familiar doctor, undergo examination and evaluation, and develop a long-term treatment and counseling plan as soon as possible.
