Considering Autism Through the Lens of Neurodiversity

When it comes to autism, many people think of the diagnosis in terms of perceived weaknesses. In fact, the diagnostic criteria for autism in the DSM-5 (a reference book used universally by health professionals concerning health and brain-related conditions) emphasizes common “deficits” of core social skills as well as “restricted” and “repetitive” patterns of behavior.

As neuropsychologist who have the opportunity to meet and work with young people on the autism spectrum and their families, we suggest a different lens.

Certainly, aspects of autism may make it more difficult for autistic individuals to navigate the demands associated with the wider world, which is not primarily populated by and designed for the neurodiverse. Fortunately, there has been recent emphasis on learning more about the many strengths associated with autism.

Generally, these strengths are observed more broadly and systematically than those found in the relatively rare autistic “savants,” i.e., individuals who possess extraordinary talents, often in the fields of math, memory, music, or art.

While no two autistic individuals are alike, the following are strengths that have been discussed in the literature and shared by adult autistics.

1. Focus. Autistic individuals are, by and large, able to focus intensely on areas of interest. This supports their capacity to gain expertise in a particular field of study or profession.

2. Attention to detail. Many autistic individuals display excellent attention to detail, memory, and capacity to recognize patterns, as well as strong ability to attend to and perceive visual and auditory information.

3. Music. Perfect pitch is much more common among the autistic population than the non-autistic population.

4. STEM. Many autistics gravitate toward and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

5. Creativity. Many autistic people are creative, “out-of-the-box” thinkers who perceive the world in a different way from more conventional thinkers.

In addition, many autistic individuals demonstrate a number of interpersonal strengths. Qualities such as honesty, directness, loyalty, and a strong moral compass and sense of justice have been described among autistic people. And, though there are misconceptions to the contrary, many autistic people are highly empathic. While they may struggle with “cognitive” empathy, which refers to the ability to understand others’ feelings, beliefs, and intentions, many autistics have wonderful instinctive “affective” empathy, i.e., ability to share and “feel” other people’s emotions.

Overall, we would encourage people to consider autism through the lens of neurodiversity. We know that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways, and that there is no single “right” way of thinking, learning, or behaving.

As more people develop a greater understanding of the many strengths associated with autism, we can develop a more inclusive and supportive society and help autistic individuals meet their goals personally and professionally.