If you are wondering how many levels of autism are there, the current diagnostic framework describes three support levels for autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. These levels are used to describe how much support a person needs because of difficulties associated with autism.
Level 1 means requiring support, Level 2 means requiring substantial support, and Level 3 means requiring very substantial support. Importantly, these levels are not simply a ranking of a person’s intelligence, personality, abilities, or potential. Support needs can also differ between social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors.
What Are the Levels of Autism?
There are three levels of autism used to describe current support needs:
- Level 1: Requiring support
- Level 2: Requiring substantial support
- Level 3: Requiring very substantial support
The levels of autism are based on characteristics associated with autism, particularly social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior. The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5-TR framework specifies severity separately for these two areas.
This means that levels of autism should not be viewed as a simple scale from “least autistic” to “most autistic.” A person may have different support needs in different areas of functioning.
How Are Levels of Autism Determined?
An autism level is determined as part of a professional assessment rather than by simply counting symptoms.
A clinician may consider:
- Social communication
- Social interaction
- Restricted or repetitive behaviors
- Ability to adapt to changes
- Communication abilities
- Daily functioning
- Independence
- The amount of support needed in different environments
For example, a person may communicate using full sentences but still require significant support with social interaction or adapting to changes. Another person may have substantial communication support needs but demonstrate strengths in other areas.
The CDC explains that autism diagnosis involves considering developmental history and behavior rather than relying on a single medical test.
Level 1 Autism: Requiring Support
Level 1 autism is described as requiring support. A person may experience noticeable difficulties with social communication and flexibility, particularly without appropriate support.
Social Communication at Level 1
A person with Level 1 autism may have difficulty:
- Initiating social interactions
- Maintaining back-and-forth conversations
- Understanding some social expectations
- Developing or maintaining friendships
- Adjusting communication to different situations
Someone may be able to speak in full sentences and communicate effectively in many situations while still experiencing meaningful social communication difficulties.
Repetitive Behaviors and Flexibility at Level 1
Level 1 may also involve difficulty adapting to changes, switching between activities, organizing tasks, or managing routines.
Restricted interests or repetitive behaviors may interfere with functioning in one or more settings.
These characteristics can sometimes be less obvious when a person has developed strategies for managing social or environmental demands. The level of support required should therefore be considered rather than relying only on how noticeable autistic traits appear to other people.
Level 2 Autism: Requiring Substantial Support
Level 2 autism is described as requiring substantial support.
Social communication differences are generally more noticeable and may continue to affect functioning even when support is provided.
Social Communication at Level 2
A person with Level 2 autism may experience more substantial difficulty with:
- Initiating social interactions
- Responding to social approaches
- Maintaining conversations
- Understanding or using verbal and nonverbal communication
- Adjusting communication to different social settings
The amount and type of support required can vary considerably between individuals.
Repetitive Behaviors and Changes at Level 2
Restricted or repetitive behaviors may occur frequently enough to be noticeable to other people and may interfere with functioning across multiple settings.
A person may experience substantial difficulty with:
- Unexpected changes
- Transitions
- Shifting attention
- Changing routines
- Managing restricted interests or repetitive behaviors
The goal of describing Level 2 is to communicate the person’s support needs, not to define their overall abilities or potential.
Level 3 Autism: Requiring Very Substantial Support
Level 3 autism is described as requiring very substantial support.
A person at this level may have substantial difficulties with verbal and nonverbal social communication and may require extensive assistance across multiple areas of everyday functioning.
Social Communication at Level 3
Possible challenges may include:
- Very limited initiation of social interactions
- Significant difficulty responding to social communication
- Major differences in verbal communication
- Significant difficulty communicating needs
- Substantial challenges with social interaction
The presentation can vary considerably between individuals.
Repetitive Behaviors and Adaptability at Level 3
Restricted or repetitive behaviors may significantly interfere with functioning across multiple areas of life.
A person may experience substantial difficulty with:
- Changes in routine
- Transitions
- Shifting attention
- Adapting to unexpected situations
- Managing restricted interests or repetitive behaviors
Level 3 indicates a very high level of support need; it does not mean that a person’s abilities are limited in every area.
Level 1 vs. Level 2 vs. Level 3 Autism
The three levels of Autism can be summarized according to the degree of support generally required:
| Autism Level | General Support Description | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Requiring support | Support is needed for social communication and/or flexibility |
| Level 2 | Requiring substantial support | More substantial support is needed across relevant areas |
| Level 3 | Requiring very substantial support | Very substantial support is needed because difficulties significantly affect functioning |
These descriptions are not intended to predict everything about a person’s abilities. The DSM framework considers social communication and restricted/repetitive behaviors separately, meaning support needs can differ between these areas.
Are Autism Levels the Same as Mild, Moderate, and Severe Autism?
Not exactly.
People sometimes use terms such as “mild autism,” “moderate autism,” or “severe autism” in everyday conversation. However, these terms can oversimplify the complex ways autism affects different people.
The formal descriptions are:
- Level 1: Requiring support
- Level 2: Requiring substantial support
- Level 3: Requiring very substantial support
The focus is therefore on support needs and functional impact, rather than assigning a person a simple severity label.
Do Autism Levels Determine Intelligence?
No. An autism level does not determine a person’s intelligence.
Autistic people can have a wide range of cognitive abilities. Some have intellectual disability, while others have average or above-average intellectual abilities.
A person’s autism level should therefore not be interpreted as an intelligence score or measure of their potential.
Autism can also occur with or without accompanying intellectual or language impairment, which is why a person’s complete developmental and functional profile is important.
Do Autism Levels Determine Independence?
Autism levels should not be used as a simple prediction of whether someone can live independently, work, study, form relationships, or participate in their community.
For example, a person may need substantial support in communication but have strong abilities in another area. Another person may have greater support needs with daily routines, organization, or adapting to change.
Independence is influenced by many factors, including:
- Communication abilities
- Adaptive skills
- Living environment
- Available support
- Physical health
- Cognitive abilities
- Education and employment opportunities
- Individual strengths
For a deeper discussion of independent living, see our upcoming guide on Level 2 or Level 3 autism and independent living.
Can Autism Levels Change Over Time?
Support needs can change over time.
A person’s developmental skills, environment, responsibilities, health, and available support can all influence how much assistance they need at different stages of life.
The CDC notes that autism-related levels can fluctuate over time.
A change in support needs does not mean that autism has been cured or that the underlying neurodevelopmental condition has disappeared. Instead, it may reflect changes in abilities, circumstances, or the demands placed on a person.
Can Level 2 Autism Become Level 1?
This question is best understood in terms of changing support needs rather than autism disappearing.
A person who previously required substantial support may later require less support in certain areas because of development, learning, environmental changes, or access to appropriate support.
Professional reassessment may therefore describe support needs differently at different points in a person’s life.
For more detail, see our dedicated guide on whether Level 2 autism can become Level 1.
Autism Levels in Children and Adults
Autism levels can be relevant to both children and adults, but support needs may look different depending on age and environment.
Autism Levels in Children
For children, support needs may become apparent in areas such as:
- Communication
- Social interaction
- School participation
- Play
- Transitions
- Daily routines
- Sensory experiences
As children develop new skills and encounter new environments, their support needs may also change.
Autism Levels in Adults
For adults, support needs may involve:
- Employment
- Relationships
- Communication
- Independent living
- Healthcare
- Household responsibilities
- Managing changes
- Community participation
A person’s support requirements should be evaluated in relation to their actual circumstances rather than assuming that an autism level determines their capabilities in every area.
Can Someone Have Different Support Levels in Different Areas?
Yes.
One of the important aspects of the autism level system is that severity can be specified separately for social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
For example, a person may require one level of support for social communication and a different level for restricted or repetitive behaviors.
This is one reason why describing someone simply as “Level 1” or “Level 2” does not provide a complete picture of their abilities or support needs.
Who Determines an Autism Level?
An autism level should be determined as part of a professional clinical assessment.
The evaluation may consider:
- Developmental history
- Social communication
- Social interaction
- Repetitive behaviors
- Restricted interests
- Flexibility
- Communication
- Daily functioning
- Support needs
There is no blood test that can diagnose autism. Healthcare professionals use developmental history, behavioral information, observation, and clinical assessment to determine whether diagnostic criteria are met.
Online quizzes can provide general information but should not be used to assign an official autism level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can autism levels affect the type of support a person receives?
Yes. Autism levels can help clinicians communicate the amount of support a person may need, which can help guide individualized services and accommodations.
Can a person with autism have different support needs at home and at work or school?
Yes. Support needs can vary depending on the environment, expectations, sensory demands, communication requirements, and available accommodations.
Are autism levels used in every country?
Not necessarily. Diagnostic systems and terminology can differ between healthcare systems and countries, so the way autism severity or support needs are described may vary.
Why is understanding autism support needs important?
Understanding individual support needs can help families, educators, and healthcare professionals identify appropriate accommodations and provide support that matches the person’s strengths and challenges.
Conclusion
So, how many levels of autism are there? The DSM framework describes three support levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3.
These levels are best understood as descriptions of current support needs, rather than fixed labels that define a person’s intelligence, personality, potential, or ability to live a meaningful life.
Level 1 involves requiring support, Level 2 involves requiring substantial support, and Level 3 involves requiring very substantial support. Importantly, support needs can differ between social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors and may change over time.
If you are looking for more information about autism and the treatment approaches available at The Stem Cells Institute, explore our dedicated Autism Treatment page.
