It is beneficial to understand the more severe aspect of the autism spectrum to develop empathy and sympathy for the person and family having the unique day-to-day challenges. Severe autistic symptoms often include severe impairment of communication, minimal or no social interaction, and repetitive or self-injurious behavior.They can be non-verbal or have very restricted verbal communication, and it becomes difficult to express even simple needs. Sensory sensitivities can become oppressive, and a texture, a sound, or a sight can be inducing a high degree of distress.
Routines bring predictability and safety for such circumstances, and disturbance could result in disastrous anxiety or meltdown. Control of emotions is typically difficult, thus leading to explosive outburst misconstrued by others as bad behavior. Parents or other caregivers of individuals with severe autism typically face enormous physical and emotional demands, as daily life is consumed in management of behavior, safety, and coordination of complex medical and therapeutic systems.
Despite these challenges, it's important to look beyond the symptoms to the person. With the right assistance—therapies, structured environments, and patient communication strategies—many individuals with severe autism can achieve an improved quality of life. Society must move forward to acceptance and understanding, so that all those with every level of autism are accorded respect, dignity, and compassion. Education and awareness are the keys to a more tolerant world.