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AUTISM GLOSSARY
Spiky Profile
DEFINITION
A spiky profile describes the pattern of significant strengths and significant challenges that characterize many autistic people. Unlike an average profile that is relatively uniform across domains, a spiky profile shows dramatic peaks and valleys.
WHY IT MATTERS
Understanding a spiky profile helps families and educators set appropriate expectations — high expectations in areas of strength, genuine support in areas of challenge, without using one to dismiss the other.
COMMON MISCONCEPTION
A spiky profile is not inconsistency or laziness. Someone who excels at math but cannot organize their backpack is not 'choosing' to fail at one and succeed at the other. Both are real.