New Research Definition Proposed For Profound Autism

Researchers have proposed a standard definition of “profound autism” for use in future studies. Under the proposed definition, a person must have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, need adult supervision to protect their health and safety, and have daily living skills well below expectations for their age. They must also have either significant cognitive impairment, defined as an IQ below 50, or communicate primarily through single words or set phrases to express basic needs. These characteristics must be persistent rather than temporary.

The goal of the new definition is to make research findings easier to compare and support the development . . .