Almost a year ago, researchers believed they had found a genetic link between autism and prodigy through a marker on chromosome 1. With so many similarities, the differences can become blurred. How can one distinguish between autism, prodigy and savant?
"In many ways, prodigies look a lot like savants," wrote Ohio State University assistant professor of psychology, Joanne Ruthsatz. "They have the same preternatural abilities. They have the same prolific output.
"But there's a key difference between the two. While in savants, these extreme abilities are paired with an underlying impairment or disability, prodigies don't typically have any such disability."
Prodigy
Children who have astounding abilities, usually linked to memory, before their 10th birthday, are considered prodigies. (Think Mozart or "Doogie Houser, M.D.") A 2014 study of eight prodigies found "child prodigies have profound working memories across three domains; art, music, and math." Other traits include an "average or higher IQ, extraordinary working memory, and a heightened attention to detail." Ruthsatz wrote that though prodigies share these similar traits with autism and autistic savant syndrome, not all prodigies are autistic.
However, Ruthsatz conducted a study in 2012 which found that more than half of the prodigies in the study had at least one - one participant had five - autistic relatives.
Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects one in 68 American children and is marked by impaired verbal and nonverbal communication. People with autism tend not to read social cues as someone not on the spectrum would. People with this neurologic disorder might not respond to their own name, flap or make wild gestures, become frustrated and have tantrums, engage in repetitive behaviors or have difficulty with eye contact and cognition. Someone on the spectrum could be high functioning, like Dan Aykroyd, who was diagnosed with Asperger's. "One of my symptoms included my obsession with ghosts and law enforcement -- I carry around a police badge with me, for example," the actor and comedian said. "I became obsessed by Hans Holzer, the greatest ghost hunter ever. That's when the idea of my film 'Ghostbusters' was born."
Savant Syndrome
Savant syndrome is defined by one research team as "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." One in 10 autistic people show signs of savant skills, which are nearly always marked by an incredible memory - math savants more so than art savants.
Savants can exhibit a range of savant skills, like splinter skills in which a person has an "obsessive preoccupation" and is able to memorize things like sports or music trivia, numbers or historical facts. Talented savants have more focused talents or single talent that is in sharp contrast to their impairment. Prodigious savants are very rare and have a honed skill "so outstanding that it would be spectacular even if it were to occur in a non-impaired person." A 2009 study noted less than 100 talented savants in the world living at the time.
A 2015 study led by Darold Treffert, an expert in savant syndrome, found that 75 percent of the congenital savants in his study group also had autism, but the study concluded that "not all persons with autism are savants and not all persons with savant syndrome are autistic."
Kim Peek, the inspiration for the Oscar-winning film "Rain Man," was an American "megasavant" who died at the age of 58.
Where do we go from here?
Autism, prodigy and savant syndrome are all marked by a specialized attention to detail and a passion for a topic or information and though the negative traits of autism can be a hardship on families, Ruthsatz suggests that the same traits that are celebrated in prodigies and savants should be celebrated in people with autism.
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
Follow Kimberly M. Aquilina on Twitter at @KimESTAqui.
