Having a high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD), also called autism with low support needs, means that you typically have a level 1 autism diagnosis with milder autism traits. You require the least amount of support for daily living when compared to others with more intense traits. For this reason, autism may be diagnosed later in life—long after learning to cope with the challenges.
You may think treatment is unnecessary if you've been managing autism's effects on your own. But whether you were diagnosed with autism in childhood or later on, treatment for autism with low support needs can help you to better manage your disorder.
This article will help you learn more about mild autism traits in adults as well as treatments that may help. It can help you to know when it's time to speak with a healthcare provider about your autism.
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Autism Traits in Adults With Low Support Needs
The clinical manual doctors use to diagnose autism and other mental health conditions is called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The most recent version, the DSM-5, describes three levels of autism which are defined as ASD functional levels. It also explains support and services typically required, depending on the intensity of autism traits.
Level 1, or autism with low support needs, involves milder traits and describes people who need the least support for their condition. These level 1 autism traits include:
- Trouble with social interaction
- Some unusual level of sensitivity to sight, sounds, and other sensory input
- A need for sameness, repetition, and order
Some autistic adults with milder traits are also likely to be focused on a specific area of interest than people who have more intense forms of autism.However, if they do have a focused area of interest, they may have a hard time engaging with others outside of that interest.
Treatment is designed to address traits that are impacting your day-to-day life. These autism traits can differ from person to person.
Goals of Treatment
Autism isn't a disease, and it does not get worse with time as some illnesses do. There is neither a physical nor ethical reason to do anything about it.
It's only when autism traits affect your quality of life—your health, job, relationships, and so on—that treatment may be a good option.
A treatment program is not meant to "cure" your autism. Rather, it's designed to give you a framework to betterunderstand both your strengths and limitations so that you can function better in your daily life, interact with others productively, and find strategies to better cope with your individual challenges.
Goals for an adult diagnosed with level 1 autism might include:
- Building self-control
- Controlling emotions
- Being flexible
- Improving communications skills
- Understanding non-verbal cues
- Reducing anxiety
Seeking treatment also may connect you with a world of professionals and support groups who know the challenges of living with autism.
Treatment often involves dealing with family issues. This may help with repairing rifts in which family members no longer talk. A lack of knowledge about mild autism traits and their dynamics may actually be at the root of some of these conflicts.
In some cases, families become stronger when members work together to better understand and live with autism.
Challenges of Adult Autism
Forms of Treatment
Children with any level of autism usually receive some type of treatment in school. Typically, that means physical, occupational, and speech therapy. It usually comes along with some type of social skills training and behavior support.
If children have problems with sensory input, their parents might also sign them up for sensory integration therapy. This helps autistic children to deal with sights, sounds, and other stimuli.
As they get older, they might get involved with social skills groups and cognitive therapy.
Some of these therapies can be appropriate for you as an adult too, although you may need to seek some of them in different settings. What's involved specifically in treatment really depends on how your autism is impacting your life.
Applied Behavioral Analysis
The treatment plan for a person with level 1 autism often involves a therapy known as applied behavior analysis (ABA). ABA is an approach used to manage mild autism traits through the positive reinforcement of desired behaviors.
Desired behavior goals are established at the onset of therapy. Every time a desired behavior is exhibited, a reward is given to reinforce the behavior.
Goals in adults may include:
- Improving conversational skills
- Responding appropriately to new people
- Maintaining eye contact
- Managing schedules and appointments
- Displaying assertive behavior (as opposed to passive or aggressive behavior)
With children, positive reinforcement may take the form of praise, a toy or book, or watching a video. For adults, the reward may be verbal, or the goals may be structured so that you are "rewarded" by moving to the next step.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is considered a gold standard of autism therapy but it is not without its controversies. Some autism advocates reject its emphasis on "fixing" behaviors in people they consider neurodivergent rather than respecting their differences. Others have welcomed more emphasis on rewards instead of consequences during ABA therapy.
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Medication
Sometimes medication also is an option for controlling certain autism traits, or co-occurring conditions often seen in autistic people.
Prescriptions may include:
- Antidepressants: Some of these drugs may be given to help with repetitive behaviors, or to better manage emotions like anger or anxiety.
- Stimulants: These drugs may help reduce hyperactivity and improve focus and attention.
- Anti-anxiety drugs: These may help with certain anxiety disorders.
Unapproved Therapies
Beware of false claims made about treating autism. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged people to avoid some of these claims, including:
- Chelation therapies: These products claim to "cure" autism traits by removing toxins in the body. Chelation products are sold as sprays, capsules, liquid drops, and clay baths.
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy: This involves breathing oxygen under pressure in a special hyperbaric chamber. It is used to treat some conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning, but it is not approved for autism.
- Essential oils: These and other products, like raw camel's milk, are not FDA-approved.
Services and Support
Though high-functioning autism, by definition, requires a low level of support overall, some people with level 1 autism may need more support than others. This depends on the specific challenges they face.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures reasonable accommodation at school or work for some autistic adults with low support needs. Beyond that, the benefits may be limited. Still, an autistic adult can ask a healthcare provider to write a report that clearly outlines their autism diagnosis and any associated functional challenges.
With this written diagnosis, autistic adults may be eligible for state and federal services. In some cases, that may include help with health insurance, housing, and job training and placement.
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Along with professional help, many autistic adults with low support needs benefit from their own ability to gather information about autism and employ strategies they learn. They may seek information from books, support groups, or conferences that share insights and ideas about living with autism.
This may be especially important if you have a new diagnosis as an adult. You may feel your ASD is overlooked. Those around you may assume you are neurotypical (meaning that your brain functions and you process thoughts in the same way as most people around you). It may help you and your family to connect with others who share your autism experience.
The Global and Regional Autism Spectrum Partnership (GRASP) offers a page of links to sites and resources to support autistic adults with ideas, insights, and next steps.
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Summary
People are much more aware of autism spectrum disorder than they once were. In some cases, that means adults find out they have autism later in life. Once you know the traits and have a diagnosis, help is available.
If you are an autistic adult, treatment may not be necessary but it is possible. There are many resources that can help improve the quality of life for autistic adults. This usually means some form of therapy with a healthcare provider, and it also may include medication.
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