Does the academic giftedness that comes with autism outweigh the social struggles?

[Anonymous]

Was your son diagnosed as gifted? My level 1 son (adhd and ASD level 1) really struggled at school behaviorally because he gets overstimulated and because he’s very sensitive to adhd meds.

My son isn’t gifted though - he is intellectually average from an IQ perspective and his strengths are weakened by executive functioning and visual spacial deficits.

He needs a good amount of scaffolding at school academically and socially emotionally and finding the right environment has been a challenge.

[Anonymous]

I think it might be kinder to refrain from telling OP scary stories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My AuDHD kid was top of her class, NMSF, 1580 SAT, with tons of advanced and college classes graduating HS.

And, she went to our state flagship. Didn’t even apply to any T20 schools. She is incredibly smart but she knew she needed to be closer to home in a less competitive environment.

Could she have gotten into a T20? Absolutely. Would it have been a good situation for her? Probably not.

This is what you don’t know until you have lived with a ND kid. Projecting where a three year old will be at 18 is a fools errand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm asking because our 3yo DS was just diagnosed with autism. While part of me is worried that he won't fit in socially when he goes to school, another part of me is relieved that he will undoubtedly excel effortlessly, as autism tends to come with academic giftedness. He'll probably graduate high school in the top 1% of his class and go to a T20 college. I know I can't change the fact that he has autism, but I still can't help wondering if his academic and financial success will make his social challenges worth-it.

3 yo and he’ll probably what??? lol

Autism equates to giftedness? lol

He’ll prob graduate. lol.

Top 1%. lol.

Go to a top 20 college. lol

Lame Troll post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, academic giftedness doesn’t always translate to financial success. The most financially successful member of my family is someone who is smart but most importantly has a high EQ.

For example, my nephew is autistic. Went to a top northeast private. Perfect SAT score. Scholarship to an IV. For PhD, got offered scholarship to Cal-tech, Stanford and two Ivies. Currently doing PhD in physics at one of the schools after taking some time off. At 29, he has never had a girlfriend. The world outside of academics is pretty confusing them. Their mother, who is on the spectrum as well, but less pronounced was academically gifted but not at her son’s level - she learned 3 languages within an 3 her span with ease. But, guess what, suffers severe depression, anxiety and is bipolar. An impulse spender, is unable to manage her finances, gets overwhelmed easily and therefore unable to keep a job. Older sibling manages her finances to keep her from going homeless. I’ll be honest, her mental health struggles has been like a sentence to those close to her, as she is an extremely stressful person to deal with on a regular basis. She’s mid 50s.

Is she divorced? When

[Anonymous]

I believe in that EQ is more important than IQ. I have a girl who is on the spectrum (mild), adhd, learning disabilities (struggle with academic), average IQ with higher EQ. I have a son who is on the spectrum (mild), adhd, high IQ, gifted in academic, has problem with executive functioning skills, but lower EQ and struggle more with friendship. I have more faith that my girl can live independently and gets into a relationship. She may not be a smart girl or find a good pay job, but she loves to volunteer to help others. She can be a good girlfriend, a wife and a mom. My son could get into a great college, but he may not be able to live independently or gets into a relationship if he still does not understand many social norms or improve his executive functioning skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm asking because our 3yo DS was just diagnosed with autism. While part of me is worried that he won't fit in socially when he goes to school, another part of me is relieved that he will undoubtedly excel effortlessly, as autism tends to come with academic giftedness. He'll probably graduate high school in the top 1% of his class and go to a T20 college. I know I can't change the fact that he has autism, but I still can't help wondering if his academic and financial success will make his social challenges worth-it.

Everything I have read points to giftedness as rare among those with autism. They are more likely to have a lower than average IQ.

[Anonymous]

Autistic people tend to be gifted in math and science specifically, not all academics.

[Anonymous]

Autistic people, like all people, span all IQs. And even if he is gifted -- which you just don't know -- that isn't at all the same as high achieving academically. Anxiety, executive dysfunction, and inflexibility often accompany autism and can make school success really difficult.

Please love the child you have, accept him for his strengths and challenges, and don't assume anything about the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the autistic kids I know also have intellectual disability.

What? Most of the “high functioning”/level 1 or PDA type autistic kids I know are cognitively average. They have deficits that bring down their overall IQ, or sensory/social issues that make a traditional learning environment difficult for them or comorbidities like ADHD but they have an average IQ overall and are full verbal and cognitively functioning.

I personally know fewer who are gifted, but do know a few people with this profile too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Autistic people, like all people, span all IQs. And even if he is gifted -- which you just don't know -- that isn't at all the same as high achieving academically. Anxiety, executive dysfunction, and inflexibility often accompany autism and can make school success really difficult.

Please love the child you have, accept him for his strengths and challenges, and don't assume anything about the future.

This - OP, you should definitely not assume your child will be gifted because of their autism diagnosis (unless he has actually been tested and declared to be gifted). Do your best to support him and meet his evolving needs. Early intervention is critical and at 3, he can really benefit from therapies like speech, OT, PT (if needed), PCIT (parent training) and ABA. Build a team of specialists to guide you in his therapies and education.

My son wasn’t diagnosed until age 7 and I really spiraled after the diagnosis even though I had suspected it and even pursued it for years. It’s ok to grieve. Hopefully you can get yourself some support.

[Anonymous]

lol

Ok.

[Anonymous]

T.R.O.L.L

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm asking because our 3yo DS was just diagnosed with autism. While part of me is worried that he won't fit in socially when he goes to school, another part of me is relieved that he will undoubtedly excel effortlessly, as autism tends to come with academic giftedness. He'll probably graduate high school in the top 1% of his class and go to a T20 college. I know I can't change the fact that he has autism, but I still can't help wondering if his academic and financial success will make his social challenges worth-it.

Autism does not "tend to come" with academic giftedness. It can come with giftedness. Or not. Each kid is different. Some kids with ASD are gifted, many are not.

Even if he is gifted, he will likely not excel effortlessly given the challenges ASD brings that will impact him in the school environment.

Is this a troll post?

[Anonymous]

Puberty is a blast to parent though with an asd girl.