A LITERATURE OVERVIEW ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND SAVANT SKILLS

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) feature extensively in discussions on savant syndrome and seem to be the most prevalent group among the savant population. It is important to understand the relationship between ASD and savant syndrome as the two are closely connected. A ‘special ability’ according to some researchers, consists of a peak in cognitive abilities that contrast differently from the measured overall intelligence of that person, usually with a diagnosis of ASD. Extraordinary abilities or savant skills have been reported in individuals with ASD in various domains such as fast mathematical calculations. There are more reported cases of savant skills amongst individuals with ASD as compared to other developmental disabilities. Studies frequently link ASD to savant syndrome. Much of the collected data and published studies demonstrate a strong link between ASD and the emergence of special skills.