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Autism does not equal Intellect! Don't confuse the two.

Many people confuse autism and intellect. Autism is a neurologic condition of behavior, and intellect is a neurologic function of thinking skills. Autism occurs across ALL levels of intellect. Learn more about the differences.


Confusion about Autism and Intellect

Intellect is a word used in brain sciences to refer to thinking abilities that are largely stable over time. Much of the emphasis of intellect refers to reasoning and problem solving with words and pictures. 

Autism is a neurologic condition related to behavioral patterns. None of the 7 criteria for autism spectrum disorder refer to thinking skills or intellect.


Autism never implies impaired thinking skills! 


Autism and impaired intellect may occur together, but autism occurs across the entire range of intellect. 


Intellect Isn't Everything, But...


Although we know that intellect isn't everything,  it is one piece of a larger picture related to how the person is functioning and what challenges s/he faces. Information specific to the individual is very important to know. This is where measurement and data-gathering come into play. 


Although individuals with autism may have functional or very high intellect, it is also true that the intellectual profile is more often uneven inside the spectrum than outside. That is, the ASD individual may have significant strengths and challenges within thinking skills, whereas the neurotypical individual tends to have an even profile (generally average, generally low average, etc). Identifying these peaks and valleys is another individualized data point that is important when designing approaches to help the specific person.


Because of uneven cognitive profiles, it is not advised to use abbreviated intellectual measures. Those are quicker, but they are more likely to give a false overall impression, because they may tap into significant strengths but miss weaknesses, or vice versa. 


Don't mistake Intellect for:


Rote memory: Sometimes we say that someone with significant trivia/facts in their mind (like the temperature on venus) is "bright" or "intelligent." In fact, as far as the brain is concerned, intellect and rote memory are located in different places and do not hang together all the time. 


Behavior: I once heard a teacher watch a student (with undiagnosed ASD) who was having a meltdown say "I don't know what's wrong with him. He's not stupid." That's right. He was, in fact, a brilliant artist, and had normative intellect. However, he struggled with neurologic behavior patterns. Don't try to predict how someone should behave based on intellect. Neurologically, the two are not linked.



 
 

Have you explored the website? Check out the many pages dedicated toward clinicians, autistic adults, and family members. You can read articles, find the podcast, or book sessions with Dr. Regan directly through the website. Have additional questions? Feel free to email Dr. Regan and her team using the contact form. 

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  • Can Dr. Regan suggest a provider in my state?
    Dr. Regan does not maintain a nationwide list of referral options at this time.
  • As a professional clinician, can I schedule an appointment with Dr. Regan?
    Dr. Regan offers various training opportunities for clinicians. Visit the "For Clinicians" page on her website for details on professional consultation appointments, CEU courses, and a free clinicians' group.
  • Is insurance accepted for appointments with Dr. Regan?
    Appointments with Dr. Regan at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center are billed through the hospital, and any insurance accepted by the hospital can be used. Please verify coverage with your insurance provider before the appointment. Video appointments via Dr. Regan's website are self-pay. For more details, visit the video visits page.
  • Does Dr. Regan conduct diagnostic assessments?
    Dr. Regan specializes in autism assessments for adolescents, adults, and older adults, having completed over 1,000 evaluations, including around 400 for females. She performs diagnostic assessments exclusively at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL, with a current waitlist of about four years. While she does not offer diagnostic evaluations through her website, she provides one-hour video consultations on topics like communication, relationships, household living, emotional regulation, and work. These can be scheduled via the video visits page.
  • Can I schedule a video visit with Dr. Regan if I am out of state?
    Dr. Regan does not conduct diagnostic evaluations via video sessions. However, you can book a one-hour consultation to discuss daily living topics such as calming anxiety, effective communication, relationship repair, navigating neurodiverse households, and improving organization and productivity. Note that Dr. Regan cannot provide video consultations for individuals in Alaska, California, Guam, Iowa, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, countries outside the USA, or Illinois due to contractual obligations with her employer.
  • How can I get on Dr. Regan's evaluation waitlist in Peoria?
    Dr. Regan conducts diagnostic assessments at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, IL. She sees patients aged 14 and older including adolescents, adults, and older adults. She has a four-year waitlist. To be placed on the waitlist, please have your physician call 309-655-7378 for instructions on how to send a referral. Once this is complete, a member of staff will contact you to hold your appointment date.

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