Autism & giftedness – part 1

Note: Originally published in 2018. Fully rewritten in July 2025 to reflect new research and lived experience.

If you or someone you know identifies with the experience of being gifted and overwhelmed, articulate and misunderstood, it might be time to reconsider what intelligence looks like through a neurodivergent lens. For many, intelligence has made their autism harder to see—and harder to support. If that’s been your experience, you’re not alone. Sharing this might help others understand what they’ve been missing. And if you’re seeking a fuller understanding of your own profile, including a formal assessment for autism in adulthood, we’re here to help.

👉 Explore our adult autism assessments
👉 Take our free autism screening tools
👉 Learn more about the lived experience of a twice-exceptionality student

The more we recognize spiky profiles and twice-exceptional minds, the closer we come to building systems that support—not silence—autistic brilliance.

Rethinking Intelligence in Autism

For much of the 20th century, autism was primarily associated with intellectual disability. This impression stemmed in part from early clinical research, which focused on institutionalized children with high support needs. As a result, autism was often misunderstood as a global developmental delay, rather than the complex neurodevelopmental condition we now recognize.

Today, that picture has evolved. While intellectual disability (IQ < 70) does co-occur in a subset of autistic individuals, most—around 60 to 70%—have intelligence in the average or above-average range.^[1]Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years (Baio et al., 2018)^[2]Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years (Maenner et al., 2020) Many display advanced reasoning, exceptional memory, or highly developed skills in specific domains.

Standard intelligence tests often reveal these strengths, especially in areas such as verbal comprehension, working memory, and pattern recognition.^[3]High intellectual potential and high‑functioning autism: Clinical, cognitive, adaptive, and neurophysiological profiles (Riccioni et al., 2021) Some autistic individuals score in the gifted or highly gifted range.^[4]Cognitive and sensory profiles in autism: Implications for individual strengths and vulnerabilities (Uddin et al., 2022) However, their cognitive abilities are often uneven—what researchers call a “spiky profile”—with pronounced strengths in some areas alongside difficulties in executive functioning, emotional regulation, or day-to-day routines.^[5]Intelligence profiles and adaptive behaviors of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder compared to speech and language disorder (Jin et al., 2025) Riccioni et al. (2021) emphasize that this profile is not a contradiction but a reflection of how autistic intelligence is organized: deeply capable in structured tasks, yet frequently challenged by unpredictable or emotionally complex environments.^[6]High intellectual potential and high‑functioning autism: Clinical, cognitive, adaptive, and neurophysiological profiles (Riccioni et al., 2021)

This paradox—profound ability paired with adaptive difficulty—can be traced to how autistic brains are wired. Uddin et al. (2022) propose that the same neurological mechanisms that contribute to autistic challenges, such as heightened sensory processing or deep attentional focus, may also fuel exceptional talents.^[7]Cognitive and sensory profiles in autism: Implications for individual strengths and vulnerabilities (Uddin et al., 2022) For instance, monotropism—a strong focus on one topic—can lead to extraordinary expertise, but also increases vulnerability to burnout or social disconnection when misunderstood.

There may also be a genetic link. Clarke et al. (2016) found that common genetic variants associated with autism were positively correlated with cognitive ability in the general population.^[8]Common polygenic risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with cognitive ability in the general population (Clarke et al., 2016) These same patterns appear to underlie strengths in logic, abstract reasoning, and systemizing—traits that often flourish in autistic individuals.

Still, higher IQ doesn’t guarantee smoother emotional or social development. Autistic children with IQs up to 118, stronger cognitive skills did not predict better regulation or relational ease. In fact, higher intellectual ability often coexisted with greater emotional distress.^[9]IQ and Internalising Symptoms in Adolescents with ASD (Edirisooriya et al., 2021) These children could solve abstract problems and follow complex instructions, yet struggled with social nuance, sensory overwhelm, and emotional awareness. The disconnect between their cognitive strengths and regulatory difficulties often led to frustration, shame, and masking—especially when others mistook intellect for maturity or resilience.

This echoes what many autistic adults describe: being praised for their intelligence while quietly overwhelmed by internal chaos. A child might compose symphonies in their head but fall apart over the texture of their socks. An adult might fluently debate philosophy but struggle to manage a grocery list. Intelligence in autism is real—but it’s rarely simple.

High IQ in Autism – Strengths and Challenges

For many autistic people, intelligence doesn’t always feel like a gift. It can feel like a contradiction. You might master a new programming language in a weekend but freeze when asked to make small talk. You might win awards for your writing yet forget to pack lunch. From the outside, these mismatches seem paradoxical—how can someone so “smart” struggle with such “basic” things?

The answer lies not in a lack of intelligence, but in how it’s expressed. Autistic cognition is often highly specialized. In a 2023 neuroimaging study, Sharkey et al. found increased connectivity in brain regions responsible for pattern detection, memory consolidation, and systemizing—the mental drive to understand rules, structures, and logic.^[10]The neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder as it relates to twice‑exceptionality (Sharkey, R.J, & Nickl-Jockschat, T., 2023) These networks support excellence in fields like mathematics, engineering, and music theory. When an autistic person dives deeply into a subject—whether mapping mythologies or designing virtual ecosystems—they may be drawing on these precisely tuned circuits.

But this specialization comes with trade-offs. Sharkey and colleagues describe autistic brains as optimized for precision over flexibility. The same wiring that supports deep concentration and advanced skill-building may also make it harder to shift tasks, filter sensory input, or adapt to unstructured social situations. Autistic thinking often goes deep, not wide—excellent at detecting patterns, but more easily overwhelmed when too many variables demand attention at once.

This helps explain why some autistic individuals who excel in logic, language, or memory may still struggle with emotional regulation or uncertainty. As Riccioni et al. (2021) found, even those who score in the gifted range can face significant challenges in adaptive functioning—navigating daily routines, managing transitions, or responding flexibly to change. Brilliance in one domain doesn’t erase vulnerability in another.^[11]High intellectual potential and high‑functioning autism: Clinical, cognitive, adaptive, and neurophysiological profiles (Riccioni et al., 2021)

Jin et al. (2025) extend this insight, showing that as IQ increases, so too can the gap between what a person is capable of and what they can consistently do.^[12]Intelligence profiles and adaptive behaviors of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder compared to speech and language disorder (Jin et al., 2025) High intelligence may obscure autistic traits, especially in structured settings, but it does not eliminate them. In fact, it can heighten emotional distress when expectations outpace support. When you’re told you’re exceptional, it’s hard to admit that brushing your teeth feels impossible some mornings.

This internal mismatch is often hard to explain to others—and to ourselves. Intelligence doesn’t cancel out autism. It just makes the terrain more complicated to navigate.

Twice-Exceptional – The Overlooked Intersection

There’s a strange invisibility that comes with being both gifted and autistic. People often see only one side of the equation. If you’re articulate and quick-witted, your sensory sensitivities are dismissed. If you’re passionate about history or physics, your social struggles are written off as quirk. Autism, when paired with intelligence, is frequently hidden in plain sight.

This is the reality of being twice-exceptional—intellectually gifted and neurodivergent. It’s a profile that remains underrecognized in schools, overlooked in diagnostic settings, and underrepresented in research. In their 2022 systematic review, Gelbar et al. examined over 30 studies on gifted autistic individuals and found a consistent pattern: strong verbal reasoning, narrow but deep interests, exceptional memory—alongside executive dysfunction, social misattunement, and elevated anxiety.^[13]A Systematic Review of the Research on Gifted Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Gelbar et al., 2021) The problem wasn’t that one side outweighed the other. It was that they obscured each other. A child might ace math exams but fall apart emotionally after school.

Huey et al. (2024) illustrated this dilemma through case studies, including one student repeatedly flagged as gifted but never assessed for autism—despite clear emotional dysregulation and social confusion.^[14]Case studies on twice‑exceptional learners: The paradox of giftedness and overlooked neurodiversity (Huey, L.S., & Amran, A.N. C. C., 2024) The assumption was simple and wrong: “He’s too smart to be autistic.”

Recent estimates suggest this intersection is more common than previously thought. Cheek et al. (2023) found that up to 14% of gifted children may also meet diagnostic criteria for autism or another neurodevelopmental condition.^[15]The Exceptionality of Twice‑Exceptionality: Examining Combined Prevalence of Giftedness and Disability Using Multivariate Statistical Simulation (Cheek et al., 2023) Yet most clinical and educational frameworks are not designed to detect that overlap. Tools tend to look for deficits. Gifted kids are experts at hiding them.

Often, the masking isn’t even conscious. A child’s rigid routines may be seen as discipline. Their intense interests are encouraged—until they dominate the conversation. Their quietness is mistaken for shyness. But beneath the surface, these children may be overwhelmed, confused, or working hard to interpret cues that others take for granted.

When those needs are overlooked, the cost can be steep. Uddin et al. (2022) warn that while cognitive strengths in autism may be impressive, they often coexist with unaddressed emotional and sensory vulnerabilities.^[16]Cognitive and sensory profiles in autism: Implications for individual strengths and vulnerabilities (Uddin et al., 2022) Without support, twice-exceptional children are at higher risk for anxiety, depression, and early burnout.

There’s a relational toll, too. Being twice-exceptional can be profoundly isolating. You might not relate to neurotypical peers, but feel out of step in neurodivergent spaces as well. You may be admired for your intellect but not believed when you need help. One student described it like this: “It’s like being a shark, living in a fish tank.”

The solution lies in seeing the whole person. A child—or adult—can be brilliant and still need support. They can have a 140 IQ and still melt down over a schedule change. Recognizing this complexity is not a contradiction. It’s the key to understanding what twice-exceptionality really means.

Also have a look at:

Giftedness/Asperger’s Disorder Checklist

Read more:

Autism & high intelligence