Specialized Talents and Autism
In the last 20 years, knowledge about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has grown leaps and bounds. With this increased knowledge has also come a lot of acceptance and inclusion for those who are on the autism spectrum.
Despite this, much of the focus about autism from the “outside world” are on the negative aspects of autism. In other words, so much focus is given to the challenges and struggles that children on the autism spectrum face.
It is, of course, true that children with autism face challenges that other neurotypical individuals may not. This includes impairment with language and communication skills, social skills and interactions, and even some daily life skills.
At the same time, there are many things that people with autism excel at. In fact, there’s a condition called Savant Syndrome to describe individuals who have a developmental disability and possess truly exceptional abilities in some other areas.
Below, we discuss some of the specialized talents that some children with autism have.
Learn more about link between autism and intelligence
Table Of Contents
What is Savant Syndrome?
As mentioned, Savant Syndrome1 is a term used to describe an individual who has developmental disabilities but also possesses other abilities that are truly exceptional. These talents surpass what would be the typical performance levels of other people.
Savants have talents that are truly staggering and hard for others to comprehend. That’s how impressive they are.
Only about 10% of individuals who have ASD are estimated to have savant abilities. While that sounds like a rather low percentage, the fact is that it’s far higher than the percentage of people without ASD who have savant abilities.
What Specialized Talents Do People with Autism Have?
A large majority of people who have autism don’t have savant abilities. However, the 90% of individuals who fit into this category still often display specialized talents that many neurotypical individuals don’t.
While these specialized talents can vary greatly, there are some common areas in which people with autism excel.
- Art2: While children on the autism spectrum often struggle with language, verbal and non-verbal communication, one area where many do excel is art. This lines up with the fact that children with ASD are often visual learners. Not only do they absorb information better with visual cues, but they do well in expressing themselves this way, too.
- Math3: Along the same lines, children on the autism spectrum may exhibit exceptional talents in mathematics. They may be very good with numbers and have the ability to perform very complex calculations accurately and quickly, many times without even needing paper to write it down.
- Music4: As it is a form of art, music also fits nicely into this box of specialized talents. Some individuals with autism pick up instruments very quickly and are able to master them at early ages. They also can compose music or even replicate other complex compositions after they hear them.
- Memory5: Many individuals on the autism spectrum also have outstanding memories. They might have photographic memories, where they can capture entire situations and experiences as a “frozen moment in time” in their brain. They also might be able to recall very specific dates, details and facts about the past with exceptional accuracy.
Why Do Individuals with Autism Have Specialized Talents?
There is no one answer to why individuals with autism have specialized and exceptional talents. There are some theories about why this may be, though.
Part of it could stem from the fact that they have atypical functioning in their brain as well as structural differences compared to neurotypical individuals. Some modern research suggests that the brain of an individual with ASD could have areas that simply function differently.
It’s also possible that neuroplasticity plays a significant role. This is the ability of the brain to reorganize itself and adapt to certain situations. This might give individuals on the autism spectrum the ability, for instance, to excel in some areas even though they face significant challenges in some other areas.
Just like autism itself, there are many other factors that could play a role, including genetics, the early development of the brain as well as environmental factors. Though there isn’t a definitive reason — or even set of reasons — why this may happen, much research is still being done into the subject.
Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with ASD Develop Skills They Need
So much about autism is focused on the struggles and challenges that people with the neurodevelopmental disorder face. However, these individuals are not only capable of so much, they can excel with specialized talents.
At Blue Gems ABA, we are dedicated to helping all children on the autism spectrum develop the social, communication and daily life skills with which they may struggle. Our team of experienced BCBAs do this by administering applied behavioral analysis on a one-to-one basis.
ABA therapy is a science-based approach to learning and behavior that uses positive reinforcement and repetition to build these skills. And since it’s personalized to each individual’s strengths and challenges, it’s much more effective than other forms of treatment.
To learn more, please contact us today.
617-297-7998
617-340-3371
info@bluegemsaba.com
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