High Functioning Autism Strengths and Abilities

Having autism makes one’s life different. Sometimes this can be for the worse, but other times it can be for the better. The cases where having autism can be for the better often involve unique strengths that many neurotypical individuals lack. With the help of their autistic strengths and abilities, individuals can find many chances to succeed in life.

But what are these autistic strengths, and how are they beneficial? Humans may have talents like their resourcefulness or being a fast learner, but those aren’t specific to autistic individuals. What do autistic individuals bring to the table that can allow them to uniquely succeed in life? In this blog post, I am going to list some common strengths that many autistic individuals have, what they can do with those talents, and how to develop their abilities.

Strengths That Come Specifically From Having Autism

It’s important to note that the following autistic strengths are not universal among all autistic individuals. Think of this as more of a list of strengths that often accompany autism rather than strengths found in every autistic individual.

Specialized Knowledge in Topics of Interest

Autistic individuals will often hyper-fixate on specific topics. These topics can range from hobbies to school subjects. According to one study, autistic individuals have a great interest in topics they are passionate about, which causes them to invest time in their hyper-fixations and become either proficient in or an expert on them. For example, I have a special interest in video games, so I play a variety of titles and follow the latest industry news.

Hyperfocus

When autistic individuals hyperfocus on a task, all of their attention is drawn toward it. Although this intense focus has some downsides, it can lead to them staying focused on their work, which can result in amazing productivity.

Attention to Detail

Many autistic individuals are capable of thoroughly analyzing details. This attention to detail can help them in situations that call for a keen eye. In these scenarios, they may effortlessly detect key nuances that other people miss.

Pattern Recognition

One of the most commonly cited strengths of autistic individuals is their pattern recognition skills. Autistic individuals may recognize patterns that don’t register to neurotypical people.

Unique Perspectives on Issues

Having autism can present an alternate perspective to life. These unique perspectives can come into play when problem-solving. By providing a unique perspective to an issue, many autistic individuals can come up with helpful solutions that some other people may not have considered.

Honesty and Direct Communication

Many autistic individuals will often talk to their peers in a straightforward manner. They’ll get straight to the point and avoid bogging down their speech with hidden meanings or an agenda. This results in clear, unambiguous communication with other people. Honest and direct communication like this can help autistic individuals build trusting relationships because you always know where you stand with them.

Strong Memories

The memories of many autistic individuals are capable of retaining detailed information. This memory retention can come in handy when they need to recall something complex.

Reliability

Once engaged with a task, many autistic individuals will dedicate themselves to it. This dedication can make them dependable when given certain goals. An autistic individual’s reliability can also extend to relationships as they will do their best to keep them functioning.

The Benefits of Having These Strengths

Here are some examples of how these strengths benefit autistic individuals.

Ability to Excel at Work

If a job calls for an individual’s autistic strengths, they can use these strengths to produce great work. This can come from roles that call for skills like attention to detail or creative problem solving. An autistic individual’s ability to hyperfocus can also come in handy, as it will help them efficiently complete their tasks. In fact, a 2022 study argues that autistic individuals have many employment-related strengths that should be recognized and valued by both autistic people and employers alike.

Strong Relationships

Many autistic individuals struggle to bond with other people, but any connections they do make can be very strong. This is because autistic individuals have traits that are conducive to good relationships, such as empathy, honesty, and being able to converse without a hidden agenda. I know I get along with my friends and family because of my honesty and how much I care about them.

Improved Quality of Life

In 2023, a study reported that autistic individuals achieve positive outcomes when they know what their strengths are and use them. This means that simply using their strengths can be enough for an autistic individual to improve their quality of life.

How To Develop These Strengths

Knowing how to develop your strengths can be as important as knowing what they are and what you can do with them. After all, your strengths aren’t going to help you much if they aren’t given some time to develop. Here are four ways you can develop your abilities:

Learn Your Strengths

The first step is to figure out which strengths you have. Take some time to reflect and identify areas in which you excel. List as many strengths as you can so you have multiple areas to develop.

Grow Your Strengths

Now that you have identified your autistic strengths, take some time to fine-tune them. Figure out personal ways to develop and refine your strong points. For example, I use my specialized knowledge on pop culture to practice writing and learn more about my special interests.

Leverage Strengths To Achieve Your Goals

The next step is to figure out how to apply your autistic strengths to your goals. The big goals are career-related, but autistic strengths can also be used for personal goals that improve your quality of life. For example, if you excel at creating schedules and following through with them, you can use that to help keep your house organized.

Consult Others

You aren’t the only person to know your autistic strengths. Family members and friends can help you uncover where you excel. They may have observed you being good at something and noted your expertise in it. If you are struggling to identify your strengths, feel free to ask if they have any suggestions.

In addition, you can consult a specialized autism coach, like those at Thrive Autism Coaching, to discover your strengths. Click here to schedule a complimentary consultation with a Thrive coach if you would like to explore this.

Final Thoughts on the Strengths of Autistic Individuals

Having high functioning autism means you have a set of strengths begging to be used. Maybe your autistic strengths are the ability to identify patterns, focus on tasks, or use your strong memory. Perhaps your specialized knowledge defined your career path. Maybe your unique perspectives on issues came in handy many times at work. Regardless, there are many ways an autistic individual’s different strengths can help them.

Conversations about autism do not have to focus on the challenges. We can change the conversation away from what many struggle with to what many excel at. With this more positive conversation, we can spend some time spotlighting autism strengths and how everyone, not just the autistic individual, benefits when they get to bring their amazing talents to the table.