Autism Prevalence 31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70), 25% are in the borderline range (IQ 71–85), and 44% have IQ scores in the average to above average range (i.e., IQ >85). Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
Autistic Individuals Require Specialized IQ Tests
It's not surprising that IQ testing for individuals with ASD is even more complex and controversial. Since verbal skills deficits are one of the key symptoms of autism, IQ testing that relies heavily on those skills for the assessment normally falls flat.
About 70% of children with ASD have a non-verbal IQ below 70. Of these, 50% have a non-verbal IQ below 50. Overall, up to 50% of people with "severe learning difficulties" have an ASD. Read more about the symptoms of ASD.
The Aspie Quiz is a self-administered questionnaire to measure autistic traits in adults (age 16+) with an IQ in the normal range (IQ >=80). In fact, it measures both autistic and neurotypical traits in five domains: talent, perception, communication, relationship, and social.
Those with Asperger's syndrome, in contrast, must by definition have suffered no cognitive delay during their first 3 years of life. This means that they will usually have at least a “normal” IQ. In some cases, their IQ may be very high, even in the genius range. There are, however, different kinds of smarts.
'High functioning autism' is a term often used for individuals diagnosed with ASD who have an intelligence quotient (IQ) estimate of 70 or above.
However, there is no clear link between ADHD and IQ. A person may have a high, average, or low IQ score and also have ADHD. ADHD may cause a person to interrupt in class or perform poorly on tests. This can cause other people to believe that they may have a lower IQ.
The prodigy belongs to Mexico City and has an impressive IQ of 162 — higher than the 160 of the greatest ever physicist of this generation, Stephen Hawking. The genius child, Adhara Pérez Sánchez, has an IQ that beats Albert Einstein — whose IQ is estimated to be around 160.
Many people who are neurodivergent have higher-than-average abilities—for example in pattern recognition, visual-spatial thinking, memory, or mathematics.
115 to 129: Above average or bright. 130 to 144: Moderately gifted. 145 to 159: Highly gifted. 160 to 179: Exceptionally gifted.
Research shows that more than half of all autistic individuals have an above-average IQ, while roughly 16% have an IQ higher than 130. But having high intelligence doesn't mean that autistic individuals don't experience some challenges associated with the diagnosis.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) When did Elon Musk take an IQ test? The Tesla CEO is estimated to have an IQ score of around 155.
They're just as smart as other folks, but they have more trouble with social skills. They also tend to have an obsessive focus on one topic or perform the same behaviors again and again.
However, epidemiological data from different countries indicate a high prevalence of low intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in children with ASD. According to the most recent ASD surveillance estimates in the US, 35% of 8‐year‐old children with ASD have Intellectual Disability (ID) (IQ < 70, Maenner et al., 2021).
My own small study suggested that autistic children can experience certain difficulties during tests. Many factors can impact on their ability to take exams: such as noise levels and other sensory onslaughts and classroom layout. The wording of test questions can also present increased difficulties.
Scores of 80 to 89 are considered low average. Scores of 70 to 79 are considered borderline impaired. Scores of 55 to 69 are considered a mild impairment. Scores of 40 to 54 are considered a moderate impairment.
These include Isaac Newton, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, Lewis Carroll, the poet W. B. Yeats, and politicians Keith Joseph and Eamon de Valera. Apparently Hitler too had autistic traits.
Indicators show that high IQ and autism both have a mixed batch of correlations deemed convergent. Large brain size is one of them, with another being rapid brain development. Also shown was higher visual and sensory potential.
High Intelligence is Neuroatypical.
Gifted brains have distinct brain structures-- they have double the glial cells, burn glucose more rapidly, and have faster, more efficient connections (1). They think about things in elaborate creative ways, often looking lost in thought.
Extra high intelligence is somewhat rare in people with autism. Less than 5 percent of persons with autism exhibit the genius-like abilities like Dustin Hoffman portrayed in Rain Man.
What's the lowest IQ ever? The lowest IQ ever would be 0. However, no one has ever scored that. Scores below 75 usually indicate a cognitive disability.
Arnav Sharma
In 2017, the 11-year-old London kid of Indian origin received the highest IQ score of 162. He is one of the world's smartest kids ever, scoring two points above Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Many assume that a high IQ makes everything in life easier, including the management of ADHD. However, research tells us that a high IQ does not protect anyone from the executive dysfunction or emotional dysregulation typical of ADHD.
31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70), 25% are in the borderline range (IQ 71–85), and 44% have IQ scores in the average to above average range (i.e., IQ >85).