Can a Normal Person Be a Savant?

In short, savant syndrome is not synonymous with, nor limited to mental retardation, and in some persons with savant syndrome IQ can be in the normal, or even superior range.

How do you know if you're a savant?

To be diagnosed as an autistic savant, a person will typically have developmental disability and an extraordinary knowledge or skill in one specific area. Generally, savant skills are in art, math, calendar calculation, music, and memory recall.

Can you be savant without autism?

Approximately 1 out of 1400 people with mental retardation or CNS deficits other than autism do have savant skills, so such abilities are not limited to autistic disorder. Hence not all autistic persons are savants, and not all savants are autistic.