Ask Dr. Malcolm
Dr. Malcolm answers parents’ questions and concerns about their autistic children.
By Ronald I. Malcolm, EdD
Terri of Fresno, CA, asks:
I have a 24-year-old son with autism and intellectual disability (ID), and he often throws away items that we have bought him, like clothes, CDs, and DVDs, that are new, that he has picked out himself. I don’t understand why. When I ask him why he does this, he says, “I don’t know.” His speech is limited, so it’s frustrating not to be able to figure out what he is thinking and why this keeps happening.
Knowing why an individual with autism and an intellectual disability exhibits a certain behavior begins with understanding the level of both autism and intellectual disability that the individual presents with.
Levels of autism
Autism affects individuals differently. However, there are generally three levels of autism that are recognized. These include:
• Level 1 autism – requiring support
• Level 2 autism – requiring substantial support
• Level 3 autism – requiring very substantial support
Levels of intellectual disability
Levels of intellectual disability can also vary among individuals. In The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the term
“mental retardation” was replaced with the term “intellectual disability.” Such levels are distinguished based on the individual’s presenting IQ.