A 12-year-old boy is extremely talented in math and has a remarkable memory for dates but struggles to have a conversation and often takes things very literally. What might these symptoms suggest?
This boy's superior skills in math and memory, paired with difficulties in conversation and tendency to interpret things literally, could be suggestive of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), potentially at the high-functioning end of the spectrum, sometimes referred to as Asperger's syndrome. Individuals with ASD often have unevenly distributed skills, excelling in certain areas while struggling in others. His difficulties with conversation and literal interpretation suggest potential struggles with social communication, a common characteristic of ASD.