At 3 years old we received the diagnosis of Kyson having symptoms that hit all levels across the board towards the severe end of the spectrum. Although it’s not stating that he has severe Autism, we understood what “severe” meant by countless hours of detective work on the internet. So I thought…

Levels of Autism Spectrum Disorder
How do you actually rate Autism if it’s off a spectrum?
What exactly does that level or severe end mean?

Here are three links I found if you care to read on, Autism Parenting Magazine, Healthline and VeryWellHealth.

Reading the endless post Autism levels and severity online, honestly, the word “severe” scared the hell out of me. Here I imagine Kyson never being able to talk and every day was going to be a torment for him with frustration, self-harm, and meltdowns. Yes, at the very beginning of our unusual path, it was.

Grief
Reluctantly I admit, I felt like my life was over. How am I going to help my little guy deal with everyday life? I knew my son was in there, I’ve seen him before but as the months went on he was drifting further away from me. I look into his eyes which used to spark at my sight now was distant and he didn’t recognize me. I found myself experiencing the Kubler-Ross model, 5 stages of grief.

Then school and ABA therapy started. We had school conferences and the teachers would all state how he tugs at their heart because he’s so special to them. Kyson picked up to the schedule routines so quickly and the transition was no problem.

In therapy, he was going through the task so fast, program after the program being created just for him. They couldn’t believe how fast he was accomplishing each new program they placed for him. Therapists and BTs stating how his progress was going so well and he was a favorite. One even told me that Kyson was an easy case cause he’s the only child she could get him to finish the programs in his session. I admit I was a bit jealous that Kyson would conversate with them while most days, he doesn’t say a single word to me the whole morning.

Even our Social Case Worker states that our home-visits were special to her. Kyson was a favorite and she loved that we made her job a bit easier.

Conclusion
How is this possible? Kyson was able to get through his day seamlessly and when he was with us, his parents, he acted out all the time! Then I remembered, he’s just a child. He is my child and he knows exactly how to push our buttons. He knows exactly how to get his way!

My severely special son is just a child. Like most children, they know how to play their parents into giving in. He knows how to act up with Dad when he wants to be with Dad. He knows how to come to grab my face and or stare directly at me to ask for something if I’m occupied.

So what exactly are the levels of Autism? I still don’t know but he makes me smile. Severe Autism, he’s my severely special son!

-Anna MV

Ever since Halloween, Kyson has been a minion every night! LOL
Apparently “Noise” is a funny word!