The term profound autism is defined as having an IQ of less than 50 or being nonverbal or minimally verbal. Children with profound autism require help with tasks of daily living.
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).
TONI (Test of Nonverbal Intelligence), perhaps the most popular IQ test for ASD, is a unidimensional test, as are the Naglieri Nonverbal Intelligence Index and Raven's Progressive Matrices tests. These tests, however, remain the best way to measure IQ in ASD patients.
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.
Savant syndrome is a rare, but extraordinary, condition in which persons with serious mental disabilities, including autistic disorder, have some 'island of genius' which stands in marked, incongruous contrast to overall handicap.
About 70% of autistic people have an intellectual disability, which means they have an IQ lower than 70. The remaining 30% have intelligence that ranges from average to gifted. Autism and intelligence are two separate characteristics. A person can be autistic with any level of intelligence.
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.
Total scores can range from a low of 15 to a high of 60; scores below 30 indicate that the individual is in the non-autistic range, scores between 30 and 36.5 indicate mild to moderate autism, and scores from 37 to 60 indicate severe autism (Schopler et al.
Severe intellectual disability
Severe ID is characterized by intellectual and adaptive functioning that are approximately four or more standard deviations below the mean (less than approximately the 0.003rd percentile) (10). The measured IQ of persons with severe ID falls between 20–25 and 35–40 (10,13,15).
However, a much higher percentage of individuals on the autism spectrum have Intellectual Disability . As of the most recent prevalence study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which studied records from 2008, 38% of children with ASD had Intellectual Disability .
Like, is Elon Musk a genius? It answered, Elon Musk's IQ is reported to be 155, which is very high compared to the average of 100.
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.
Increasing IQ Through Early Intervention
This includes speech therapy, occupational therapy, and Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). Early Intervention can help teach a child with ASD basic skills such as communication, gross and fine motor skills, and thinking.
Long-term research that involved following a group of individuals with autism for two decades indicates that the average life expectancy for some autistic people is about 39 years. Furthermore, this population generally succumbed to health complications about 20 years earlier than individuals who do not have autism.
There are five major types of autism which include Asperger's syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Kanner's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified.
Adhara Pérez Sánchez of Mexico City, has an IQ higher than Albert Einstein. The child prodigy is receiving her master's degree in engineering soon. Adhara aspires to be an astronaut in NASA. Adhara has an IQ of 162, which is higher than Einstein and Stephen Hawking.
Not All Autistics Are Mathematic Savants, But Many Have Above-Average Math Abilities. It turns out that, despite impressions, most ASD patients may not be any better at math than their counterparts at a particular age or developmental stage.
Generally, adaptive skills track with IQ. Someone with average IQ would be expected to have average adaptive skills. However, in autism, researchers have found that adaptive skills may lag behind IQ, sometimes far behind.
They may also have exceptional memory, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills. In fact, some autistic people have a unique way of thinking that allows them to see patterns and connections that others may miss. One of the reasons why people associate autism with intelligence is because of the "savant syndrome".
The absence of intuitive and even obligatory “mentalizing” in autism may also contribute to talent. People with autism may be less subject to herd thinking, and more able to take original perspectives.
Autistic people are thought to have difficulties with identifying and understanding their own emotions. This is referred to as emotional self-awareness.
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.