When Autism Isn’t the Whole Story: Understanding Twice Exceptionality (2e)

When Autism Doesn’t Explain Everything

When my son was two, he was

only using a handful of words and had only begun walking at 18

months. Because he had more than one delay, we were encouraged to have him evaluated. The diagnosis at the time was PDD-NOS, which was later updated to autism.

But that diagnosis didn’t explain everything I was seeing. It didn’t explain how he spelled the word airplane in foam letters on the bathtub wall at age two, or how when I told him there was no dessert at the restaurant to avoid ordering it, he simply read the menu himself, corrected me, and insisted on ice cream.

As he grew, his profile became even more complex. He had a highly sensitive sensory system and had memorized every type of construction vehicle. He struggled to connect with kids his age, yet could hold long, detailed conversations with adults about topics far beyond what you’d expect from a preschooler: security systems, airplane types, geography, and more.

It wasn’t until mid-elementary school that I finally learned the term twice exceptional, or 2e, a description that finally made sense of what I had been seeing all along: giftedness and autism coexisting in one extraordinary child.

What Does “Twice Exceptional” Mean?

2e students have exceptional talents while also experiencing learning differences such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or anxiety. They often have deep passions and remarkable strengths, and they shine in areas that capture their interest. But outside those areas, they’re sometimes misunderstood as lazy, unmotivated, or obstinate.

With my son, I quickly learned that his challenges could easily hide his strengths. His slow processing speed and dysgraphia made simple math worksheets incredibly difficult, so his teacher assumed he wasn’t ready for advanced math. But the moment you discussed mathematical ideas with him, it was obvious he understood concepts far beyond his peers.

I also learned that his strengths could just as easily hide his challenges. He relied on his exceptional memory to compensate for not being able to take notes, his strong verbal skills to mask how hard writing was, and his intense interests to carry him through research projects that were otherwise overwhelming.

Understanding Twice-Exceptionality: How Autism and Giftedness Interact

Gifted students are often known for their deep interests, high intensity, and advanced thinking. Autistic students are known for deep focus, strong memory, intense interests, and strong pattern recognition. When these traits combine, they don’t cancel each other out, they amplify one another.

For my son, the combination of giftedness with the autistic trait of deep focus becomes super hyperfocus. It allows him to spend hours immersed in his passions - like memorizing the entire flight-route map of the United States (go ahead, ask him about any plane overhead and he’ll tell you exactly where it came from and where it’s going), or teaching himself how to push the limits of his 3D printer and repair it himself.

His exceptional memory, rooted in autism, pairs with the advanced conceptual thinking that comes with giftedness, enabling him to talk about complex topics with a depth far beyond his age.

His special interests have become a source of joy, motivation, and even comfort - powered by both his ability to hyperfocus and his advanced thinking. But that same intensity makes school assignments outside these topics a real challenge.

Giftedness doesn’t “cancel out” autism, rather it can amplify some of autism’s characteristics. Many gifted children wrestle with perfectionism and the need to get things “just right,” but for my twice-exceptional autistic son, that drive can escalate into a meltdown when things don’t go exactly as he envisions. His capacity for hyperfocus is one of his greatest strengths, but it also makes it incredibly hard to shift him to tasks that don't capture his interest. And the combination of advanced thinking with heightened sensory and emotional experiences can lead to big, overwhelming reactions - his sophisticated “what if” thinking can quickly spiral into anxiety.

Why 2e Autistic Kids Are Often Misunderstood

The cognitive profile of 2e learners often confuses parents and teachers. People sometimes assume, “He’s so smart. He reads above grade level while other students are below. He doesn’t need help.” My son could discuss his areas of interest with the depth and vocabulary of an adult, yet when it came time to write something down, he couldn’t produce work. At one point, this same child, who was ahead of the class in math, climbed a bookshelf because he didn’t know how to start an assignment.

It can be incredibly difficult to secure an IEP for a student who performs at or above grade level academically. Fortunately, our school recognized that my son was not meeting the school's age-based expectations for social and emotional skills development, which affected his ability to access the curriculum. He received an IEP for social and emotional support, but nothing that nurtured his strengths or allowed time for his interests. The academic support strategies typically used with struggling students didn’t work for him, because they didn’t address his advanced abilities at the same time. For example, he often knew too much about the topic he was supposed to write about and couldn’t figure out how to organize his thoughts. Instruction focused on helping students grasp the material or write a basic paragraph didn’t meet his needs, and he quickly became bored and restless.

This asynchronous development, being years ahead in some areas and years behind in others, is a hallmark of twice-exceptionality. Recognizing and supporting both sides is essential to prevent under-support and under-stimulation.

Signs Your Child Might Be 2e (Autistic + Gifted)

Potential Strengths

• Highly motivated, knowledgeable, and skilled in interest areas

• Makes connections and detects patterns across disciplines

• Shows creative, out of the box thinking

• Displays enthusiasm for learning, on their own terms

• Able to focus intently on details

• Needs less repetition than peers to master content

Potential Challenges

• Low motivation for work outside areas of interest

• Uneven social skills or executive functioning

• Perfectionism and rigidity around tasks or expectations

• Experiences sensory overload and may withdraw/flee or have an outburst or meltdown

• Shows signs of low self esteem, anxiety or depression

• Finds group work and socializing with peers challenging

What Helps 2e Autistic Learners Thrive

• Strength-based learning – Whenever possible, give 2e autistic learners opportunities to work in areas of strength and interest. Allow them to research or write about topics that spark their passion - you’ll be surprised by the results! Outside of school, focus on nurturing strengths rather than only shoring up deficits. Working in their areas of strength builds self-confidence and helps overcome challenges. Avoid pulling 2e learners from their favorite topics or electives to provide support in areas of difficulty - these may be the only parts of the school day where they are truly happy.

• Allow multiple ways to show mastery – Students don’t always need to demonstrate learning through writing. Can they present orally, create art, build a model, draw a comic, or even perform a dance? (Yes, I once saw a student perform a dance of DNA replication!) Allowing learners to show what they know in ways that work for them lets their strengths shine, rather than having challenges hold them back.

• Provide explicit instructions on group work - What are the roles that need to be played in the group? What are the key responsibilities for those roles? Who will play which role? What are the best ways for the group to communicate if the project requires work outside of class time (try to avoid this if possible)? Does each group member know how to be in touch with the others?

• Sensory-friendly supports – Conduct a sensory audit of the learning environment, looking for bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or other triggers. Offer quiet spaces for focused work or to reset.

• Executive function scaffolds – Many 2e learners struggle with starting assignments or organizing tasks. Provide rubrics, clear examples, and break large projects into manageable steps. Use prewriting exercises like mind maps, keep routines predictable, and give advance notice of any changes. Allow plenty of time for transitions, especially out of preferred activities.

• Flexible school supports – IEPs and 504 plans should address both challenges and strengths. Ensure supports help learners access the curriculum while also nurturing their passions and talents.

• Form a team – Work with evaluators, clinicians, executive function coaches, and educators who understand 2e and autism. Building strong partnerships with your child’s school and sharing strategies that work can make a huge difference.

• Teach self-advocacy – Help 2e learners understand how they learn best and how to ask for support. These skills are lifelong and will help them navigate school, work, and beyond.

• Build a positive identity around brain differences - Reading books with neurodivergent characters and discussing real-life role models who have thrived because of their differences can help kids build a positive identity in a world that often values conformity.

How Parents Can Learn More

• Seek a comprehensive evaluation – Work with a 2e-informed neuropsychologist or clinician to understand exactly where your child excels and where they need support.

• Explore neurodiversity affirming resources – Organizations such as REEL, and the Davidson Institute offer information on neurodiversity and twice-exceptionality to help you advocate effectively for your child.

• Build a supportive community – Connect with other parents of autistic 2e children to share resources, strategies, and experiences, and to reduce feelings of isolation. REEL’s Google Group is a great one to join.

Closing: Reframing the Story

Understanding twice exceptionality and your child’s unique profile opens the door to the support, strategies, and understanding they need to thrive. By recognizing and celebrating your child’s 2e strengths, you give them the opportunity to truly shine.