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.

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.

This is an obvious troll.

But for anyone that may read this in the future or actually looking for info: no. My son has an extremely high iq and will likely never live independently and I bet that most people who meet him would be shocked he has such a high iq. I had an uncle who was in a terrible accident in childhood that resulted in oxygen deprivation to his brain and moderate cognitive disability and he probably could have lived independently more easily than my son can.

Plus with AI the future is jobs that require social intelligence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is not true OP. Why do you think this?

+1. I’m confused, OP. What were the results? Why are you assuming high IQ? Are you thinking if what we used to call Asperger’s Syndrome? If so, that’s a tiny subset of autism, now called ASD level 1 but you need a separate diagnosis of giftedness. Did you get a 2e (twice exceptional) diagnosis? If not, then you cannot assume your child has a high IQ or giftedness. Most of those on the spectrum are not gifted at all.

+2 OP what do you know about Autism? Tell us where you're coming from and we can direct you to studies, books, programs, etc.

Along with other considerations, there’s a more likely than not of anxiety and mental health struggles starting at the onset of puberty for some. That can put a massive strain on the whole family from my observation. You may end up active parenting for far longer than you’d like.

No. My child with autism has a genius level IQ. Like 165 IQ tested. Magically learned to read on his own at age 2. Dropped out of high school -and struggles just to handle basic hygiene. Has no friends, no job, no life really.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not worth it. And even when people do have a high IQ and go to a T20 college, that doesn't guarantee a high income. Because flexibility and social skills are very, very, very important in the workplace. I saw it so many times with my peers at a T20 college and T20 grad school. Sometimes people do well when they have the low personal responsibilities of a college student, and the clear expectations of academia, and if social skills are lacking they're still able to get good grades. But then when it's time to get a job and deal with more subtle interpersonal challenges, it can be really, really difficult and sometimes they end up long-term unemployed.

OP, there are therapists who can help you cope with this news. Your child is wonderful no matter what their IQ and what college they go to. I wish you all the best.

+100
This is true of all people, autism or not.
EQ is more important than IQ in the real world

My kid is gifted, but not savant. She was also diagnosed in her teens so we had a long stretch in which she was just seen as a bit more quirky than all of the other quirky, gifted kids.

She had good friends as a little kid. She had a frenemy when puberty started, but then found her MS/HS people —all of whom are NT. She’s pretty happy with her social life as a young adult.

The stereotype of the autistic savant is not really correct. Some kids manage just fine, some struggle. You just need to focus on the immediate needs of the kid. Does he need speech therapy? Behavioral support? Does he struggle with over stimulation and, if so, what can you do to lessen those issues.

Not sure if this post is real because most people know autism does not often mean the person is gifted, though they can co-occur. That said, to offer someone out there some hope...My teen with autism is not gifted, but has some gifts and had an uneven profile on cognitive tests with some subtests that were considered quite high. There were bumps along the way-some triumphs and some struggles throughout school socially and academically.

College so far has been a better match than high school. You can zone in on areas of interest and find other people the geek out with about how cool certain classes are.

Get intervention now to help with social skills.

Last year, there was an ABA therapists in my preschool supporting an autistic child to advocate for himself (help opening juice box, ask questions, participate in group/circle-time setting, playing with others, etc).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is not true OP. Why do you think this?

+1. I’m confused, OP. What were the results? Why are you assuming high IQ? Are you thinking if what we used to call Asperger’s Syndrome? If so, that’s a tiny subset of autism, now called ASD level 1 but you need a separate diagnosis of giftedness. Did you get a 2e (twice exceptional) diagnosis? If not, then you cannot assume your child has a high IQ or giftedness. Most of those on the spectrum are not gifted at all.

Is it really a tiny subset?
Maybe it runs in her family. I have a strong history of aspergers types on both sides of my family (father, grandfather, moms brother, cousin). Obvious social "oddballs" who all worked as high level engineers. so it was not really shocking when one of my sons came out the same way. Unfortunately it looks like his skills won't be needed in the future with AI so I'm trying to think of what career he should focus on.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This is not true OP. Why do you think this?

+1. I’m confused, OP. What were the results? Why are you assuming high IQ? Are you thinking if what we used to call Asperger’s Syndrome? If so, that’s a tiny subset of autism, now called ASD level 1 but you need a separate diagnosis of giftedness. Did you get a 2e (twice exceptional) diagnosis? If not, then you cannot assume your child has a high IQ or giftedness. Most of those on the spectrum are not gifted at all.

Not worth it. I would rather my High IQ DS not struggling with friendship, and adhd/anxiety that often comes with autism. 3 years old is too young to tell for anything.

My son is twice exceptional, ASD and has very high IQ.

His grades in school are very average because he has a low frustration tolerance and as subjects get harder he’s not willing to fail in his first attempt or two at something new.

You can’t know anything at 3 about your child’s future abilities.

Definitely not worth it. And even when people do have a high IQ and go to a T20 college, that doesn't guarantee a high income. Because flexibility and social skills are very, very, very important in the workplace. I saw it so many times with my peers at a T20 college and T20 grad school. Sometimes people do well when they have the low personal responsibilities of a college student, and the clear expectations of academia, and if social skills are lacking they're still able to get good grades. But then when it's time to get a job and deal with more subtle interpersonal challenges, it can be really, really difficult and sometimes they end up long-term unemployed.

OP, there are therapists who can help you cope with this news. Your child is wonderful no matter what their IQ and what college they go to. I wish you all the best.