Level 3: Needing Very Significant Support
Level 3 of autism may experience the following communication problems:
– Extreme difficulty starting social interactions
– Serious problems in both nonverbal and verbal social communication, which would severely impair their functioning
– Limited use of words in speech
– Minimal response in social interactions
– Atypical ways of responding to social needs
This level is also characterized by repetitive behaviors, such as:
– Extreme difficulty dealing with changes
– Inflexible behavior
– Repetitive or limited behaviors that considerably disrupt functioning in most aspects of life
– Great difficulty or distress when changing action or focus [8]
