Here's a list of 30 TV shows that feature characters with autism: Atypical (2017-2021) The A Word (2016-2020) Everything's Gonna Be Okay (2020- )
Some people with autism would not be able to get through medical school or the chaos of working in a hospital, but that is not to say this character is inaccurate. For the most part, The Good Doctor does a sufficient job of explaining what autism is and showing how it affects the main character.
In her various forms, Wednesday Addams isn't the only neurodivergent-coded character in media. Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, Benedict Cumberbatch's rendition of Sherlock Holmes, Amelie Poulain from Amelie and Eddie Munson from Stranger Things are notable examples.
Most people are neurotypical, meaning that the brain functions and processes information in the way society expects. However it is estimated that around 1 in 7 people (more than 15% of people in the UK) are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently.
Sheldon Cooper has long been speculated to have autism. However, according to the producers of The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper isn't actually autistic.
“The Good Doctor” features Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident at the fictional St. Bonaventure Hospital in San Jose. Shaun has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a developmental disability on the autism spectrum.
Does Freddie Highmore have autism like his Good Doctor character, Dr. Shaun Murphy? The answer is no. Highmore confirmed in an interview with The Los Angeles Times in 2019 that he does not have autism but researched by talking to people in his personal life with the condition and watching documentaries on autism.
Renee is a thirteen-year-old girl who is nonverbally autistic. She appears in the Pixar SparkShorts film, Loop. Renne enjoys playing ringtones on her phone and touching interesting textures (like reeds). She communicates by vocalizing, gesturing, and showing people things on her phone.
Holmes is unique compared to an average human, but he is not a “high- functioning sociopath.” Holmes most likely suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a minor case of Bipolar Disorder, and a hint of Savant Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome causes Holmes to think in pictures and desire a close companionship with Dr. Watson.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that nearly half of individuals with ASD have average or higher IQ. Boys with ASD are more likely to have average or higher IQ than girls. Patients with ASD and higher IQ remain at risk for not being identified.
About 70% of autistic people have an intellectual disability, which means they have an IQ lower than 70. The remaining 30% have intelligence that ranges from average to gifted.
Savant syndrome is a rare, but extraordinary, condition in which persons with serious mental disabilities, including autistic disorder, have some 'island of genius' which stands in marked, incongruous contrast to overall handicap.
Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which persons with various developmental disorders, including autistic disorder, have an amazing ability and talent. The condition can be congenital (genetic or inborn), or can be acquired later in childhood, or even in adults.
The character of Dr. Dixon has been criticized for not being truly representative of Asperger's syndrome as many of her traits appear to be too similar to autism, which even though both are part of the autism spectrum, were thought to be different and distinguishable.
Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and Savant syndrome, is recruited into the surgical unit of a prestigious hospital.
Young Sheldon:
He has a genius-level IQ of 187. (In The Big Bang Theory, it is said that his and Leonard's IQs add up to 360, and Leonard says his is 173. In Young Sheldon, his mother says that he has the same IQ as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, though neither is known to have taken an IQ test.)
Sheldon Cooper
He has an IQ of 187 and also won a Nobel Prize.
The character, Sheldon Cooper, from The Big Bang Theory meets criteria in the DSM-IV for Asperger's Disorder.
Evidence for autism being subject to assortative mating comes from a study by Nordsletten et al. which reported that a person diagnosed with autism is 10–12 times more likely to marry or have a child with another autistic person than is someone without such a diagnosis.
Yet there are a good many geniuses who are considered neurodiverse. The Sanger Institute, a world leader in genome research, notes that “many scientists are neurodiverse“, including Einstein, Edison, Temple Grandin, and others.”
These people are found across all races, cultures, and socioeconomic groups, globally. Essentially, giftedness is a neurodiversity with a social-emotional and learning difference. It is highly genetic, meaning that while early experiences are influential, gifted people are essentially just born the way they are.