If you have a child with autism or autistic traits, you might sometimes worry about their development. Autistic people are often (unfairly!) seen as less eager to learn, less flexible, or limited in their learning abilities. These stereotypes are deeply rooted in our society.
Outstanding learning abilities
But new research shows the opposite: people with autistic traits actually have remarkable cognitive strengths. Researchers found that strong autistic traits—particularly a preference for predictability and repetition—are linked to excellent learning outcomes driven by curiosity.
Curiosity and Perseverance
In the study, 77 students played a computer game in which they could choose which patterns to explore and when to stop. Participants with stronger autistic traits were the most persistent and learned the most during the game. Their preference for structure was linked to curiosity and perseverance.
A wonderful result that shows autistic people can truly thrive when they’re given the chance to learn in their own way!
