Extremes in Intelligence and Neurotypicality

Post Reply New Topic

Do you think extremes in intelligence make a person non neurotypical?

Is someone who is extremely intelligent in a standardized test kind of way neurotypical? Is someone who is profoundly intellectually disabled neurotypical?

I think:

There are some people of extremely high intelligence who are, overall, neurotypical--though atypical neurology is more common amongst this group.

There are some people of extremely low intelligence who are, overall, neurotypical--though atypical neurology is
much more common amongst this group.

I know NTs who are highly intelligent. I know NTs who have learning disabilities.

I am autistic and I have an IQ of 160. There are others like me and there are others who are autistic and learning disabled.

Just taking data. Hypothesis can only be validated once data is taken and analysed in detail.

I scored above the 99th percentile on IQ tests, and I am not on the spectrum. However, I would not say I am exactly neurotypical either. I had some issues (still do) with motor skills as a child, and walked "funny." I have sensory integration issues beyond what is considered normal. I was spaced out a lot as a kid, and I was the kind of kid who would get lost walking around the block. I had a lot of executive functioning issues (still do), and anxiety.

I have two sons, who both tested with high IQs as well. One of them has Sensory Processing Disorder and Dyslexia. We think the other one is on the spectrum, but are still waiting for the official diagnosis.

I have known some very intelligent people that I would consider neurotypical.

I don't think that the term "neurodiverse" is just meant for people on the spectrum, though. I think it covers Dyslexia, ADHD, and other issues.

I don't know that I would consider people with intellectual disabilities neurotypical. I think I would consider that neurodiverse, as they are not processing information in a typical manner.

Intellectual giftedness is it's own neurodivergence. http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Neurosciences/articles/Brains%20on%20Fire/
So highly intelligent peoples are neurodivergents, even without PDD, dyslexia and things like ADHD.