How are ASD and alexithymia related?

The “alexithymia hypothesis”of ASD is that alexithymia accounts for deficits in emotion recognition abilities, empathy, and interoceptive accuracy in people with ASD. read more

Alexithymia and ASD are independent constructs, but research is needed to uncover the reasons for why ASD and alexithymia often co-occur. Investigating potential differences between alexithymia in ASD and non-ASD populations may help shed light on this issue, in addition to conducting rigorous developmental and longitudinal research [2, 3]. read more

In other words, it is not “symptom” of ASD but, in some who have alexithymia, ASD is the umbrella diagnosis given as the patient exhibits symptoms of alexithymia—inability to read emotions on others’ faces, inability to define or distinguish emotions in oneself (among other traits). read more