Neurodivergent Play and IQ Link
Dr. Sara Woods, speaking on The Testing Psychologist podcast, highlighted evidence suggesting that behaviors often pathologized in autistic individuals can be adaptive. Woods stated, "Autistic play behaviors may correlate with higher nonverbal IQ," and noted that "less eye contact can actually be preferred among autistic children." This challenges traditional diagnostic criteria that view these traits as deficits.
- Dr. Sara Woods is a clinical psychologist at the UW Autism Center, specializing in neurodiversity-affirming assessments. Her research interests include autistic strengths and effective diagnosis communication. - The neurodiversity movement, which gained momentum in the 1990s through the advocacy of autistic individuals, challenges the medical model that frames neurodivergence as a disorder needing treatment. Instead, it posits that neurological differences are natural variations in human experience. - Forcing eye contact can be stressful for autistic individuals and may hinder their ability to process conversations. Some research suggests eye avoidance is a mechanism to reduce hyperarousal caused by overactivation in certain brain regions, like the amygdala. - "Stimming," or self-stimulatory behaviors like hand-flapping or rocking, is increasingly understood as an adaptive mechanism. It can help with emotional regulation, sensory management, and maintaining focus. - While a higher IQ might be expected to correlate with better adaptive functioning (daily living skills), this is often not the case for individuals with autism. A significant gap can exist between cognitive potential and the ability to apply those skills in daily life. - The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), combined several diagnoses, including Asperger's syndrome, into the single category of "autism spectrum disorder." This shift has been met with some criticism for potentially narrowing the criteria and creating a less precise diagnostic tool. - The concept of "autistic play" is being re-evaluated from a strengths-based perspective, moving away from comparisons to neurotypical norms that often label it as "deficient" or "inappropriate." This new approach values the diverse and sometimes unconventional ways autistic children play. - The prevalence of autism diagnoses has risen significantly, with a nearly 800% increase in the UK between 1998 and 2018, largely attributed to wider diagnostic criteria and greater recognition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in every 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism.
