Dsm 5 severity levels

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I don't know if I fit into these severity levels at all. I have enough symptoms to fit the diagnostic criteria, but I don't know if my deficits are actually severe enough to even qualify for level 1, "requiring support." I don't get any support, and I don't even know what kind of support would be helpful for me.

The problem for me is that there never has been any kind of "support" available that is actually helpful for me, and I get extremely stressed out when other people interfere in my life so I really cope best when I am left alone.

Maybe I am more impaired by my ADHD(?) Russell Barkley says that ADHD is the most impairing disorder that is treated on an outpatient basis, and it is more impairing than Asperger's. I don't know if I believe that or not.

I have other problems which as far as I know are not explained by ADHD, and I read here every day and see other people talking about those same things, like face blindness and sensory sensitivity, and taking things too literally. But other people have more trouble with some of those things than I do so I have no idea really how to rate my own severity.

I FEEL desperately impaired by not being able to recognize people or remember their names because my job really demands that. But I still manage to get by and have a job and I have enough social skills to bluff my way through things like that. So I don't know if it's really an impairment that is "requiring support" or not.

The kind of support I'd LIKE to have is in finding a job that is better suited for me, that provides SOME kind of accommodations, like a quiet space to work in without distractions, where I don't feel like I'm throwing myself willy nilly out into the public every day to deal with all kinds of random and unexpected behaviors from other people.

But I'm sure there are many people who work with the public, who feel the same way I do about it and those people aren't necessarily disordered or impaired in any way. I'm also quite sure that this fantastical job I would be comfortable in probably does not exist in the real world, and even if it did there is no agency or support service that would ever help me find it.

I think I am most likely autistic, but I have no idea how to rate the severity of my traits.

I think the severity levels make more sense than having different diagnoses for everybody, particularly because there are 2 categories which can have different severity levels.

But I find the severity levels hard to understand because they are so vague, and I think there might be similar problems with disagreement about severity levels that there were with disagreement about which diagnosis to give people (there was a study done about it before the DSM-5 came out, here's a link).

I also think that sensory issues should be mentioned specifically in the severity levels.



I don't know my severity level because I had a DSM-4 diagnosis and as far as I know nobody has officially given me a severity level under the DSM-5. I would be a 1 or a 2 in either category.

being from the UK havent got a clue what mine is and dont like to assume without a doctors say so first,for self; have never felt comfortable with armchair diagnosis of any severity/functional labeling.
however,a young second cousin of mine in donegal,ireland was diagnosed less than a month before the DSM changed the way they diagnosed ASD and he was diagnosed under the old DSM as having PDDNOS,pity really as less than a month later and he woud have had an up to date diagnosis,he has struggled to get proper understanding and support with PDDNOS;which everyone who doesnt quite fit a label smoothly gets put into because theyre bloody awkward.

You're probably a 3 because you're severely autistic.

I often wondered, what support means.
- If you are seeing a therapist or are on medication or both, does that mean you need support? Then, if you stop, does that mean you no longer need support?
- If you are living with your parents, does that mean you need support? Then, if you live independently, does that mean you no longer need support?
- If you are on disability, does that mean you need support? Then, if you work, does that mean you no longer need support?
- If you frequent WP, does that mean you need support? Then, if you stop, does that mean you no longer need support?

It's so confusing.

I think the diagnosis requires two axes: one measuring communication and social deficiencies, the second measuring central coherence problems.

Looking at the scale again both level 2 and 3 apply to me. I wonder if my program would count as substantial support or very substantial support?

Yes but the two are social communication deficits and restrictive, repetitive and steryotyped behaviours. The people who got a DSM 5 diagnosis with just one severity level presumably have both social communication deficits and RRBs at that level.

@Rocket123- The way it was explained to me/the way I understand it some examples of supports include therapy, having formal accommodations at work or school, assistance from the government, SSI or voc rehab or other disability support programs or a carer or educational aid. Going on WP would not count because people don't need to have a disability to get support by going on discussion/support forums on the Internet. You might have normal non-diagnosable grief and find support on an Internet forum but that wouldn't mean you were impaired. If you stopped having supports and were still functioning well then yes, you'd be considered not needing supports any-more until you needed them again. However if you were having significant problems when the supports were removed you'd be diagnosable and hopefully eligible to get your support back! The diagnosis is based on impairment and need for support in part , because it's supposed to be for people to access help (formal help through healthcare, the government or other systems) when they need it.

I guess I do require support because at age 35, I've never really lived completely on my own. I live next door to my parents, and although I work and pay my own bills, I've never been able to work full time, and work is about all I'm able to do, and I absolutely rely on my parents to keep up the property and pay the taxes on it. It's a constant worry for me what would happen if they both died suddenly, or were incapacitated, because I would be completely overwhelmed and lost, and I won't have anyone else in the family to help me either.

So, I suppose this eliminates a lot of high functioning people like myself (e.g., people who are married and/or have been able to secure employment without accommodations).

There seems to be a lot of Aspies who make a living from being diagnosed as Aspie (or HFA). They publish (books) and do public speaking. Some seem quite high functioning. I presume these folks wouldn't qualify either.

There's something a bit unsettling about having support include therapy. I just recently started therapy myself. I was last in therapy when I was younger (at age 8, then at age 11, then at ages 18-22). I don't intend for this to be long term therapy. I believe I will get more support from reading books, watching videos and interacting with other "Aspie-like" people.

By the way, I understand, the DSM is all about money and who gets help (and who doesn't). I suppose in this world, these type of "rules" are necessary.

I think I'm 1-2. Closer to 2 with RRBs. Not really sure where with social/communication.

I say 2 on RRBs because sensory issues are categorized under RRB, plus I spend pretty much every waking hour focused on my interests when lacking anything or any reason to redirect. I am ambivalent about being "2" because I can take a break from interests a couple of times each month to buy food or other necessities, although I tend to set aside money to buy more stuff relevant to my interests (like video games or tabletop RPGs).

Yeah my interests are with me 24/7 even when in in school which between us I'm thankful for

I was given level 1 "You were able to complete school without support, you did not really need it. You are fairly high functioning."

Was not expecting what he said at all (was able to talk fluently to him), though self figured either level 2 or 1. While I was minimally verbal most likely, 2. Too verbal to be considered moderate now...

What type of school setting were you in? general ed? Special ed? Resource?

Continued to take the severity assessment online and always scored in the middle of moderate. Definitely moderate adaptive functioning anyway.

To jenisautistic
general education, no special/resource ever.