Profound Autism: An Imperative Diagnosis

Lee Elizabeth Wachtel; Jill Escher; Alycia Halladay; Amy Lutz; Gloria M Satriale; Arthur Westover; Carmen Lopez-Arvizu

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2023.12.005

Profound Autism: An Imperative Diagnosis

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2024 Apr;71(2):301-313. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.12.005. Epub 2024 Jan 23.

Authors

Lee Elizabeth Wachtel¹, Jill Escher², Alycia Halladay², Amy Lutz², Gloria M Satriale², Arthur Westover³, Carmen Lopez-Arvizu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: wachtel@kennedykrieger.org.
² Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
³ University of Texas-Southwestern.
⁴ Kennedy Krieger Institute, 1741 Ashland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

PMID: 38423722
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.12.005

Abstract

Profound autism refers to a subset of individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have an intellectual disability with an intelligence quotient less than 50 and minimal-to-no language and require 24-hour supervision and assistance with activities of daily living. The general pediatrician will invariably work with autistic children across the spectrum and will likely encounter youth with profound autism. Awareness of profound autism as a real entity describing autistic children with concomitant intellectual disability and language impairment who require 24-hour care is the first step in developing a solid pediatric home for these youth.

Keywords: Autism; Challenging behaviors; Intellectual disability; Language disorder; Profound; Psychiatric disturbance; Services; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Adolescent
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / complications
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder* / therapy
Autistic Disorder* / complications
Autistic Disorder* / diagnosis
Autistic Disorder* / therapy
Child
Humans
Intellectual Disability*