A term that refers to people with developmental disabilities (including autism) but with one or more fields of competence, ability or excellence that are in contrast to the individual's overall limitations. About 50 % of these patients have autism (example: Rainman). This syndrome is 6 times more common in men than in women.

Anesthetic implications:

in case of autism, see this term

References :

-        Treffert DA.
Savant syndrome : realities, myths and misconceptions.
J Autism Dev Disord 2014 ; 44 : 564-71

-        Hughes JEA, Ward J, Gruffydd E, Baron-Cohen S, Smith P et al.
Savant syndrome  has a distinct psychological profile in autism.
Molecular Autism 2018 ; 9:53

Updated: May 2020