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Diversity of Intelligence is the Norm Within the Autism Spectrum: Full Scale Intelligence Scores Among Children with ASD

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Abstract

Although previous research helped to define differences in intelligence between neurotypicals and those with ASD, results were limited by small sample sizes or restricted subtests. Using data from the NIMH Data Archive, this study examined the intelligence of children with ASD (N = 671). Results demonstrate an average standard deviation of 25.75, which is 1.72 times greater than that of the normative sample for the WISC-III. Moreover, students with ASD are 12 times more likely than the general population of students to score within the intellectual disability range, but are also 1.5 times more likely to score in the superior range, suggesting that more students with ASD should be considered for giftedness. Determining the diversity of intelligence among those with ASD has implications for research, clinical practice, and neurological understanding.

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Acknowledgements

Data and/or research tools used in the preparation of this manuscript were obtained from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Data Archive (NDA). NDA is a collaborative informatics system created by the National Institutes of Health to provide a national resource to support and accelerate research in mental health. Dataset identifier(s): Package number 113988. This manuscript reflects the views of the authors and may not reflect the opinions or views of the NIH or of the Submitters submitting original data to NDA.

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  1. Department of School Psychology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76706, USA

    Kenzie B. Billeiter

  2. Department of Educational Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

    John Mark Froiland

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  1. Kenzie B. Billeiter
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Correspondence to Kenzie B. Billeiter.

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Billeiter, K.B., Froiland, J.M. Diversity of Intelligence is the Norm Within the Autism Spectrum: Full Scale Intelligence Scores Among Children with ASD. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 54, 1094–1101 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01300-9

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