There are three levels of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). These levels replicate functioning labels (low vs. high functioning) as they did not account for people who exhibit traits associated with multiple levels daily nor for people who fluctuate between levels day-by-day.
Each person with an ASD diagnosis is further labeled with either ASD level 1, level 2, or level 3, depending on how incompatible their autistic traits are with neurotypical expectations and how much support they need in their daily life. The levels range from least to most incompatible.
This article discusses the traits that are typical of each of the three ASD levels. It also includes realistic examples of the experiences that are associated with each level.
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