Skip to main content

Gifted, On the Spectrum, or Both?

Gifted and Twice-Exceptional

Gifted, On the Spectrum, or Both?

A popular young adult novel character named Penelope Bunce often pulls out a chalk board when solving tough problems and starts by creating two lists: What We Know. What We Don’t Know.

When it comes to the connection between giftedness and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is important to understand that the latter column far exceeds the former. The DMS-5 continues to adjust its diagnostic criteria for ASD, and there is also no universal definition for giftedness. The scope of this article isn’t meant to be a scholarly review of the literature concerning autism, giftedness, and their intersections but will instead focus on summarizing how the two overlap and what parents and educators can do to help these children thrive.

Consider the following brief description for illustration:

A ten-year-old child in their local public school excels at computer programming and has a keen interest in learning advanced coding languages like Python. However, they don’t socialize with others at recess and seems to struggle to communicate when forced to do group work in class.

This child may be gifted and finding it difficult to meet like-minded peers who share their interest or work in groups where they have to wait for a long time for others to arrive at the same answer this child learned so quicky. The child may be autistic and able to excel in their subject of interest but not as equipped for social interactions that require reciprocity. The child may also be both gifted and autistic, often referred to as twice-exception (or 2e for short), where their asynchronous profile allows them to succeed in some tasks while being challenged by others. They may excel in academics but perhaps the sensory overload of recess and group projects causes them to seemingly withdraw. To add to the label confusion, a parent, an educator, and a clinician may all place different emphasis on different aspects of this child’s profile.

Many readers may already be having strong reactions. It is understandable given the history, stigma, and ongoing debates that circle around both the gifted and ASD communities. Parents of gifted children may worry that their child will be mislabeled as ASD, perhaps because of a teacher’s misunderstanding of gifted characteristics (and/or ASD characteristics). Parents of children who are identified as ASD may resent how this label has been used to pathologize, rather than embrace neurodiversity. Parents of children who are both gifted and autistic often feel that they can’t get the benefits of either label, such as access to advanced learning opportunities or scaffolding in school when their child needs extra support.

How Do Autism Spectrum Disorder and Giftedness Overlap?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered a developmental condition that results from a brain-based difference. It is broadly defined but mainly focuses on issues of social and communication skills, as well as some observable behavioral differences, often referred to as “restricted and repetitive behaviors,” such as rocking. Professionals consider the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, which includes behavioral checklists and severity levels, to help identify individuals.

Giftedness is also considered a brain-based difference that is broadly defined. It is commonly characterized by high intelligence, creativity, and/or achievement. Diagnosing giftedness often involves above-level testing, IQ tests, or standardized achievement tests. Gifted behavior checklists are also frequently included in gifted identification.

It should be noted that highly gifted children are not always well-adjusted, high-achievers. Highly gifted children are often described as intense or over-excitable and can present with sensory issues and executive functioning issues, much like those described in students who are identified with ASD. In addition, both students who are gifted or have ASD may struggle with social interactions. As the table below demonstrates, there are several identifying traits that both profiles share.

Shared Characteristics on Behavior Checklists for Both Giftedness and ASD

Signs of Giftedness *Taken from NAGC & the Davidson InstituteSigns of Autism Spectrum Disorder *Taken from the CDC
Enthusiastic about unique interestsHas obsessive interests
Difficulty connecting with same-age peersHas trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all
High expectations of self and others, often leading to feelings of frustrationHas trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
Rigid rule-following at play timeDoes not play “pretend” or interactive games
Issues with executive functioningHas trouble adapting when routines change
Greater sensory sensitivity (see GRO)Has unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound
Impulsive, eager and spiritedHyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior

How to Tell the Difference Between ASD and Giftedness?

While the examples above may not seem like an exact 1:1, it becomes difficult to disentangle when characteristics like “an intense interest in a peculiar subject” or “difficulty with social interactions” would fall under giftedness or ASD. What does become clear is that even shared traits are described differently depending on which context is considered. When referring to giftedness, words like “enthusiastic” are used to describe the intensity, while when referring to ASD, a behavior checklist might use a word like “obsessive.” Deficits based language often has its roots in educational frameworks which use performance levels to determine the flow of important resources like programming, in-class aid, and funding. However, it should be noted that many within the ASD community find the language used to describe them as ableist and further stigmatizing.

Both giftedness and autism fall on a spectrum, so while there may be individuals who clearly fit into one box or another, some behaviors might be more ambiguous and require additional information, context, or professional opinions. Just like in our discussion of giftedness and ADHD, it should be noted that there is no definitive test to identify either. Instead, understanding your child’s full learning profile will require a careful and thorough assessment of the whole child by a trained professional, particularly by someone who has worked with both gifted and ASD children.

Neuroscience research is ever-evolving, and while there is not yet one fail-safe method for identifying when a student is gifted, on the spectrum, or both, several professionals in the field have observed key areas that might help others identify ASD when the situation is not a clear-cut case.

Considering the motivation or context behind behaviors that may look the same on the surface is one tool professionals use when considering a possible diagnosis. For example, difficulty relating to age-peers is often cited as a shared characteristic. However, gifted students may have this difficulty because they have higher expectations of their peers, wish to dive deeper into topics, or desire a more mature form of friendship (see Miraca Gross’s article, “Play Partner or Sure Shelter”). Students on the autism spectrum often desire social connection, but may struggle interpreting facial expressions, expressing emotions, or engaging in tasks with reciprocity.

Another key indicator when considering an evaluation for ASD is the severity of symptoms and their impact across all aspects of life. As Dr. Melanie Crawford points out in her article, when symptoms create prolonged emotional distress and prevent students from engaging in regular tasks of daily life, it may be time to consult a professional. Examining the intensity of symptoms may also help professionals identify ASD in students who are gifted. For example, Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, describes her experience investigating how, in some cases, intensity can’t always be “explained away” by giftedness alone.

How to Support Students Who Are Identified as Both Gifted and on the Autism Spectrum?

There are great resources for gifted children as well as resources for children who have been identified as ASD. When a student is twice-exceptional, with both giftedness and ASD, it may be difficult to navigate which options work best for your child. As Dr. Ed Amend suggests in this article, it is “the needs of a child, not the specific diagnosis or identification category, [that] are supposed to drive the interventions.” Because giftedness and ASD can manifest in many different ways, it is important that educators, parents, and professionals follow the lead of the student to support their areas of strength and provide scaffolding in areas where student has deficits.

While there is still much we don’t know about the overlap of giftedness and ASD, what we do know are some ways to start supporting these students. A few common tips include the following:

  • If your 2e child has significant areas of challenge that affect their ability to participate in classroom activities, social opportunities, or pursue their interests, a formal assessment may be the first step so that their full profile is understood. Try to locate individuals who have experience with both gifted and 2e students through lists like our Gifted and 2e Testers & Therapists map or Hoagies’ Gifted’s “Psychologists Familiar with Testing the Gifted and Exceptionally Gifted.”
  • Use a 504 Plan or IEP to its full extent. While many support plans focus on school performance and can assist with challenge areas like written language, they can also aid with classroom transitions, social skills, and incorporate strategies for emotional regulation.
  • Even if your 2e student struggles with social situations, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect with like-minded peers in their own way. One way to do this that also aids their intellectual development is by enrolling them in non-competitive clubs, summer programs, or other programs that focus on a specific area of interest like coding, history, or math.

No child should think of themselves as “deficient” because of who they are. It can be difficult for some families to initially accept a 2e label of gifted and ASD because of the history of stigma that has surrounded the ASD community. However, a diagnoses can be helpful when it comes to accessing tools and support systems that the student might not otherwise have, such as an IEP, access to a community of like-minded peers, resources to decrease stress, and a fair and appropriate education that allows the student to explore their areas of interest. In a neurodiverse world, there are many examples of successful individuals who could be described as 2e – there’s no reason why your student can’t thrive too!

Additional Resources on the Intersections of ASD and Giftedness

Autism and ADHD | A Mom’s Story About Kids with Multiple Diagnoses | Understood – For learning and thinking differences

Gifted and Talented Students on the Autism Spectrum: Best Practices for Fostering Talent and Accommodating Concerns | (researchgate.net)

Autism –vs- Giftedness: A Neurobiological Perspective – Resources by HEROES (njgifted.org)

Interview with Marianne Kuzujanakis on Misdiagnosis – Davidson Institute (davidsongifted.org)

Twice Exceptional – Smart Kids with Learning Differences – Davidson Institute (davidsongifted.org)

Tips for Parents: Autism Spectrum Disorders Q & A – Davidson Institute (davidsongifted.org)

Comments

Susan Carrillo

2e exactly describes my 33 year old son. Unfortunately, at this age the services available to 2e individuals seems to be limited, and not very helpful. Is anyone else observing similar with their adult child. I'm struggling to help my son be independent, but really there is no help for him. His intellect coupled with social skill issues have made obtaining and maintaining employment very difficult

Lorraine Davidson

It is hard to believe in the year 2023 that schools are not better prepared to educate children with gifted or spectrum diagnosis. About both having genetic propensity to Children whose family members the parents or the family members of such children should be heard. Most schools tend to overlook a valuable resource of knowledge from parent from families or parents who have already lived many years with those conditions themselves. While we are yet led to believe that parents are first teachers , they're more often to be dismissed and their child of children go undiagnosed and miseducated miseducated. I don't know whether my comment will be posted or not but but there are many families struggling to get their children educated properly. It is heartbreaking and it is tiring and there must be help for all children regardless to what school district they attend. And there must be better educated people to work with the children and the families a child with any disability or exceptional ability creates extra work for the family. This past time for schools in America to stop isolating the parents from the education of the children we supposed to be village communities working side by side to educate the children with world class understanding and skills.

Jennifer Dearing

As a late diagnosed Audhder, whom was in gifted classes in childhood, I'd like to offer the argument that what is considered "giftedness" is really higher IQ, but having a higher IQ doesn't mean you have sensory issues or executive dysfunction; these are both traits of the autism spectrum and adhd. You can most definitely have a high IQ being autistic, and it's almost a given, if you are both autistic and adhd (AuDHD). A lot of us suffer in silence, because we grew up before ASD/ADHD was recognized in girls/women/AFAB people, OR our parents didn't want the "stigma" of the diagnosis. I went 33 years not knowing I'm AuDHD, and was misdiagnosed with multiple mood/personality disorders before being recognized as autistic and adhd.

It's harmful to pair giftedness and ASD/ADHD as similar in sensory overload and executive dysfunction senses. It's a way of trying to say an individual may need some accommodations, but to not label them as disabled (which, executive dysfunction and sensory overload are disabling, so is mood regulation).

Rachel Farina

This is interesting. I'm not sure how gifted I am or am not. The latest IQ test is 135, but that's honestly not so high. I have AuDHD. My sister has 140+ and dad has 160 with Aspergers. Anyhow, sister doesn't have sensory sensitivities at all, but she did have social challenges and other delays including very late thumb sucking and wetting the bed far later than me (and I'm younger). She ultimately came down with schizophrenia. I was diagnosed bipolar (I do think I have that), as well as ADHD and ASD lvl 1.

I don't know what my point is. 135 isn't profoundly gifted I don't think. I am finding the idea that AuDHD is gifted to be intriguing. My biggest gift was writing (not showing it here, lol), but from a young age was winning awards and wound up doing it well enough to earn a living in publishing. Still not sure if that's "gifted"? My sister was much faster learning the piano than I was - that seems more gifted. Although she was terrible with timing and rushed everything, and I was praised for being musical because my timing was very good. I joke that we should have just been one person and we could have been a good pianist.

Eric Smith

Many children on the autism spectrum have a difference in their development of speech and language. For some, speech and language may be delayed, disordered, or may not develop.

Add a comment

Please note, the Davidson Institute is a non-profit serving families with highly gifted children. We will not post comments that are considered soliciting, mention illicit topics, or share highly personal information.

Related Articles

Gifted and Twice-Exceptional

Finding and Building Community as a Profoundly Gifted or Twice-Exceptional Family

This article has been adapted from a virtual event presented by our Family Services team. Members of our Young Scholars…

Gifted and Twice-Exceptional

Communication in the Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Family

This article has been adapted from a virtual event presented by our Family Services team. Members of our Young Scholars…

Gifted and Twice-Exceptional

Social Engagement, General Enrichment, and Executive Function Support Program Comparison

This chart provides a comparison of the most popular social engagement, general enrichment, and executive function Support programs used by Davidson Young…

Gifted and Twice-Exceptional

Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students

Academic support is helpful for twice-exceptional (or 2e) students, but it isn’t enough on its own. Because there are often…