There is no such thing as severe autism in term of diagnosis but it is a way of describing how autism affected an individual. Sometimes severe autism called low functioning autism depending the level of functioning and needs. It also describe need of support required by the person to function safely. A person with severe autism needs a great support.
A person or an individual with severe autism can be much more challenging than other types of autism because this person may have many issues as anyone else in the spectrum and have many major symptoms that is not present in the higher functioning autism.
Every autistic person have social, communication and sensory challenges that makes life difficult. But, with severe autism have the following difficulties that is more challenging:
- Most those with severe autism are not be able to use spoken language and do not notice the people around them.
- Children with autism have sensory dysfunction but with severe autism, they have extremely sensitive that need to go out into the crowd, bright lights, loud noises and become overwhelming.
- Those with severe autism have low or very low IQ even tested with non-verbal tools. Some have learn to communicate using sign, spelling board, and other tools.
- Children with autism may have repetitive behaviors such as flapping hands, rocking chairs, etc. With mild autism, they can controlled these behaviors when necessary but with severe autism, it can be uncontrollable and can be extreme.
- Those with severe autism may have physical symptoms such as epilepsy, sleeplessness, gastro intestinal issues and other illnesses.
- Some children with severe autism may have self-injury behavior, aggressive and anti-social behavior since they have the hard time to communicate their needs and frustration verbally. These behaviors often results of either frustration, sensory overload and physical pain.
There is no treatment that cure for autism but there are ways to address the needs of a child with severe autism such as checking for physical issues and food intolerance, providing low-stress environment, teaching communication skills using sign words, picture cards, keyboards, etc., medication for anxiety and other behaviors, and non-medical therapies such as Applied Behavior Therapy (ABA) and early intervention programs.