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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Autism classification

Introduction

Overview

Overview

DSM 5 categorized autism under autistic spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Autistic spectrum of disorders are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication associated with severely restricted interests and repetitive behavior and can be classified into 5 types.

Classification

Classification

Classification according to DSM V criteria

DSM 5 categorized autism under autistic spectrum disorders/pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Autistic spectrum of disorders are characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication associated with severely restricted interests and repetitive behavior.[1][2][3]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autistic spectrum disorder
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Autistic disorder
 
Retts disorder
 
Childhood disintegrative disorder
 
Pervasive developmental disorder
 
Asperger’s disorder
 
 

Classification according to severity level

Based on the degree of severity and level of support ASD are classified into 3 types[2][4][5]

Severity level Social communication Restricted, repetitive behaviors
Level 3 Requiring very substantial support
  • Severe deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Severe impairment in functioning
  • Very limited initiation of social interactions
  • Minimal response to social overtures from others
  • Inflexibility of behavior
  • Extreme difficulty in coping with change
  • Repeated behavior markedly interferes with functioning in all spheres
  • Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action
Level 2 Requiring substantial support
  • Marked deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Marked impairment in functioning
  • Limited initiation of social interactions
  • Difficulty in coping with change
  • Distress/difficulty changing focus or action
  • Repetitive behaviors occur frequently
Level 1 Requiring support
  • Without support, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills
  • Atypical and unusual social responses
  • Interference with functioning in one or more context
  • Problems of organization and planning hamper independence
References

References

  1. ↑ Geschwind DH, Levitt P (2007). “Autism spectrum disorders: developmental disconnection syndromes”. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 17 (1): 103–11. doi:10.1016/j.conb.2007.01.009. PMID 17275283.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Piven J, Palmer P, Jacobi D, Childress D, Arndt S (1997). “Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families” (PDF). Am J Psychiatry. 154 (2): 185–90. PMID 9016266.
  3. ↑ Cohen D, Pichard N, Tordjman S; et al. (2005). “Specific genetic disorders and autism: clinical contribution towards their identification”. J Autism Dev Disord. 35 (1): 103–16. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-1038-2. PMID 15796126.
  4. ↑ Freitag CM (2007). “The genetics of autistic disorders and its clinical relevance: a review of the literature”. Mol Psychiatry. 12 (1): 2–22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001896. PMID 17033636.
  5. ↑ Stephan DA (2008). “Unraveling autism”. Am J Hum Genet. 82 (1): 7–9. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.12.003. PMID 18179879.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]