Savant Syndrome and Autism

Now that we’ve understood the fundamental aspects of savant syndrome, let’s delve deeper. Let’s explore the fascinating range of abilities seen in individuals with this rare condition.

Generally, individuals with savant syndrome exhibit a single exceptional skill. However, in some cases, they may possess multiple savant abilities. Regardless of the specific skill, prodigious memory is a consistent hallmark of savant syndrome. Savant skills typically occur within a narrow range of abilities, generally falling into five main categories:

• Music: Usually performance, most often piano
• Art: Usually drawing, painting or sculpting
• Calendar calculating: Curiously an obscure skill in most persons
• Mathematics: Including lightning calculating skills or the ability to compute prime numbers, for example, in the absence of other simple arithmetic abilities
• Mechanical or spatial skills: Including the capacity to measure distances precisely without benefit of instruments, the ability to construct complex models or structures with painstaking accuracy or the mastery of map making and direction finding. A real life example here is of Kim Peek who in 1979, had accurately predicted that the plummeting Skylab space station would land near Perth, Western Australia.

Other skills that have been less reported include prodigious language (poly-glot) facility; unusual sensory discrimination in smell, touch or vision including synaesthesia; perfect appreciation of passing time without the benefit of a clock; and outstanding knowledge in specific fields such as neurophysiology, statistics or navigation. Hyperlexia, which is distinguished by precocity rather than age-independent level of skill, has also been frequently reported in autism. Read our blog Hyperlexia and Autism to know more on this subject.

Savant skills can vary significantly in their nature and extent. Here’s a look at the different levels of savant abilities:

• Splinter Skills: This includes obsessive preoccupation with, and memorization of, music and sports trivia, license plate numbers, maps, historical facts or obscure items such as vacuum cleaner motor sounds, for example.
• Talented Savants: Possess highly developed skills in a single area e.g.,. music, art etc.
• Prodigious Savants: Is a term reserved for those extraordinarily rare individuals whose special skill is so outstanding that it would be spectacular even if it were to occur in a non-impaired person.

Having explored the fascinating world of savant skills, let’s now delve into the significant link between savant syndrome and autism.

It’s crucial to understand that savant syndrome isn’t a diagnosis itself; rather, it describes a set of exceptional skills that can manifest within various developmental disabilities, including autism. Therefore autism and savant syndrome are not the same. Think of autism as a vast landscape, and savant syndrome as a rare and dazzling flower that might bloom within it. While they can coexist, they are fundamentally different. And, while children with autism often exhibit narrow and intense interests, it’s crucial to distinguish these from the exceptional skills characteristic of savant syndrome. Let’s understand this difference with an analogy:

Imagine two children:

• Child A: Diagnosed with autism. Struggles with social interactions, prefers solitary activities, and has limited verbal communication. However, Child A has an exceptional memory for dates and historical events. This exceptional memory could be considered a savant skill.
• Child B: Diagnosed with autism. Also struggles with social interactions and has some repetitive behaviors. Child B has a focused interest in building blocks. He enjoys playing with building blocks and is quite skilled at creating complex structures. Child B does not exhibit any savant skills because their building skills are age-appropriate for their developmental level.

Research suggests a strong link between autism and savant syndrome. Let’s examine the evidence and explore the potential reasons for this connection:

• Overall, approximately 10% of autistic persons exhibit savant abilities. And in 2009 research involving 137 autistic people, as many as 37% showed either savant skills or unusual cognitive skills.
• Roughly 50% of those with savant syndrome have autism, and the remaining 50% have other forms of developmental disability.

Although precise figures are hard to come by, experts suggest that savant syndrome is about 50 times more likely to occur in individuals with autism than in those with other intellectual disabilities. This increased probability highlights a significant link between the two conditions.

While the exact reasons for this connection remain under investigation, several theories exist:

Both autism and savant syndrome are thought to be related to atypical brain development. In autism, this often manifests as challenges in social communication and repetitive behaviors. In some cases, these atypical brain patterns may also lead to the development of exceptional skills in specific areas, such as music, art, or mathematics. The same atypical brain development may be responsible for both conditions.

Individuals with autism often exhibit a strong focus on detail and a preference for structured patterns. This cognitive style may contribute to the development of savant skills, as it allows for intense focus and mastery of specific domains.

Interestingly, unlike the “Rain Man” character he inspired, Kim Peek wasn’t an autistic savant. Kim was born with FG Syndrome, a genetic condition, and lacked a crucial brain structure called the corpus callosum. Doctors believe his savant abilities may have developed as a result of the unique neural pathways that formed in his brain to compensate for this missing connection.

Since approximately 50% of individuals with savant syndrome are also diagnosed with autism, it’s important to recognize that autism can be accompanied by underlying conditions. One such potential factor is cerebral folate deficiency.

Folate Receptor Autoantibodies (FRAAs) can interfere with the brain’s ability to utilize folate, a crucial nutrient for brain development, particularly in areas related to cognitive function and neurodevelopment. Therefore, identifying the presence of FRAAs is important, especially in children exhibiting savant syndrome.

The FRAT^® test can identify the presence of these autoantibodies. If the test is positive, indicating the presence of FRAAs, alternative folate forms like folinic acid may be considered under the guidance of your child’s healthcare provider.

To understand the impact of FRAT^® testing and how it can benefit children with savant syndrome, let’s explore some key facts and a real-life success story.