One-Third Of Adolescents With Autism Meet One Or More Criteria For Profound Autism

Roughly one-third of autistic adolescents meet at least one criterion for profound autism, defined as autism associated with high levels of support needs, according to a recent study that included 238 adolescents with autism. Of the study participants, 79 (33.2%) met at least one profound autism criterion, and 26 (10.9%) met more than one.

Profound autism is defined by six independent criteria: the individual meets autism criteria, is aged 8 years or older, requires adult supervision, is unable to perform most activities of daily living, has an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 50 and/or is minimally verbal . . .