Editorial: Looking at it from a different angle: Positive aspects and strengths associated with neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract

Editorial on the Research TopicLooking at it from a di erent angle: Positive aspects and strengths associated with neurodevelopmental disorders Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common neurodevelopmental conditions. People with these conditions face different challenges, from symptom-related difficulties such as sustaining attention, to finishing their education and holding a job, and dealing with stigma. The social and economic costs of ADHD and ASD are tremendous, with the majority of costs due to productivity loss (e.g., work participation), special education costs and loss of wellbeing (e.g., years of healthy life lost) (1, 2). These conditions are highly heterogeneous; while some people have an IQ more than two standard deviations below the mean and/or strong functional impairments; others may have highly functional traits. In trying to better understand these disorders, research has so far mainly focussed on the deficits associated with these conditions. However, there is also evidence for positive aspects, strengths or excellence associated with these conditions. While there have been famous people with autism spectrum disorder who made breakthroughs in multiple fields in the human history, the scientific evidence on strengths in the broader group of individuals with these conditions is scarce. We think that approaching ADHD and ASD from a different angle, such as for example investigating strengths, will deliver new information that might boost our objective and complete understanding of these conditions.