Autism Linked with Improved Creativity and Problem-Solving

Scott Klumb is an independent filmmaker based in Boulder, Colorado, and creator of SMK Media Production LLC. Scott Klumb’s work as a photographer and filmmaker, in addition to his life experiences with autism, has led him to undertake research and document the experiences of adults with autism, including the dispelling of commonly held misconceptions.

There are many negative misconceptions about autism, and a common one occurs in education and employment where the diagnosis is attached with lack of creativity and imagination. Medical documentation on autism refers to a deficit in imagination as a defining factor, but modern research does not support this conclusion and suggests reasons for the misconception.

A study that tested individuals for ability to devise novel use for everyday items, such as a bent coat hanger to serve as a hands-free phone holder, concluded that autism led to fewer innovative solutions, but the solutions showed enhanced levels of creativity. This suggests that past studies were biased in their measurement of creativity and intelligence, and that autism is not necessarily associated with a deficit in creativity.