"Results show that, compared with the non-autistic population, as represented by standardized norms ... and typically developing (TD) control groups ..., individuals with ASD exhibit significantly lower math scores ... and greater variability."

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-closer-mathematical-abilities-autistic-people.html

4 minutes ago, Genady said:

"Results show that, compared with the non-autistic population, as represented by standardized norms ... and typically developing (TD) control groups ..., individuals with ASD exhibit significantly lower math scores ... and greater variability."

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-closer-mathematical-abilities-autistic-people.html

I think many people tend to over-focus on the savants, who are very much a minority. Autism is a disability and can have global negative affects on a person's social functioning and cognition. The same thing happens with certain sections of the deaf community: they consider themselves 'different', rather than socially disabled. I'm deaf and consider myself socially disabled in face to face interactions. My opinion is they are kidding themselves. There is two young men living in my street that I know, and they are considered high-functioning. I can't see them being self-sufficient anytime in the future

47 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

There is two young men living in my street that I know, and they are considered high-functioning. I can't see them being self-sufficient anytime in the future

That doesn't mean they're not mathematical geniuses, although I have no opinion concerning the topic of this thread.

Depends on what you mean by busting the myth: showing it to be untrue, or widespread acknowledgement that it’s not true.

I think the myth was busted a while ago, in the first meaning of busted, but like many myths, it persists owing to ignorance, and that that’s probably not going to change very soon.

6 minutes ago, swansont said:

the myth was busted a while ago, in the first meaning of busted

I didn't know that,

23 minutes ago, swansont said:

owing to ignorance

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Genady

7 hours ago, KJW said:

That doesn't mean they're not mathematical geniuses, although I have no opinion concerning the topic of this thread.

I don't disagree, but they are outliers. The clue is in 'spectrum'.

43 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

I don't disagree, but they are outliers. The clue is in 'spectrum'.

Right. We hear about outliers because they are outliers, but they are not typical even if it’s hinted that they are; the hasty generalization fallacy in action (specifically, as I just reminded myself via search, it’s pars pro toto - a part taken to represent the whole)

I think it comes about in part because we see examples of math savants who look like they are on the spectrum and improperly extrapolate from there, so it’s a sampling bias error.