Eyewitness testimony in autism spectrum disorder: a review.

The authors read every paper on memory and eyewitness reports in autism. They pulled out common patterns and listed what still needs testing. No new data were collected; this is a roadmap for future work.

People with ASD recall events differently. They often give fewer details, mix up order, and are extra suggestible to leading questions. These gaps can weaken courtroom testimony.

Rumball et al. (2021) show the same memory gaps raise lifetime PTSD risk, so the issue goes beyond courtrooms. Gandhi et al. (2022) tracked autistic adults for three years and found their short-term memory and hippocampus shrink faster, meaning memory problems worsen with age.

Sasson et al. (2018) push back on doubts about forensic aids. They argue sketch reinstatement, verbal labels, and registered intermediaries should still be used, extending this review’s call for evidence-based interview tools.

McCabe et al. (2013) add that personal stories from autistic adults already lack clear high-point structure, so narrative coaching may help before any police interview.

If you assess an autistic client, expect patchy, order-jumbled recall. Use open questions (“Tell me everything about…”) and avoid hints. Document memory complaints in older adults and flag trauma history—both are more common than in neurotypical peers. When legal time comes, ask for a registered intermediary and allow sketches or labels; they do not hurt and may help.