Do All Children With Autism Also Have Mental Retardation, And Vice-Versa?

Dr. Arthur Beaudet answers the question: 'Autism And Metal Retardation in Kids?'

ByABC News
October 15, 2008, 10:23 AM

Oct. 23, 2008 -- Question: Do all children with autism also have mental retardation, and vice-versa?

Answer: Not all children with autism have mental retardation, but mental retardation is relatively common in children with autism. Likewise, not all children with mental retardation have autism, but many do meet the criteria for autism. So, children with autism or mental retardation can be viewed as two groups who overlap substantially but by no means completely. Children with Asperger's syndrome, in general, would have higher learning skills and would not have mental retardation.