ADHD Autism connection?!?!? | ADHD Information

*amd*,

can you explain aspbergers please. I know someone with both adhd and aspbergers and he is very intelligent. I guess I don't know what it is that makes him qualify for the aspberger's diagnosis.

Thank you!!

Hmm... I'll look them up thank you very much Callista.
Um... you mentioned that you frequent Autism forums? Which are they please?

TTFN
Me
:)
I know all the simptoms of Autism... since thats my forte... interesting that you have both I've met children with Autism and my godson is ADHD.  Do you know where I could find more on this subject? It interests me a lot... the whole Autism Spectrum interests me.

TTFN
Me
:)
I don't have any official information, unfortunately--I just know that a lot of the people I interact with on the autism forums I frequent also do have ADHD. I would advise you, however, to look at books on both ADHD and autism, especially Asperger's and other types of high-functioning autism, and check out the sections discussing "comorbid conditions". These will probably mention your topic.

I actually think the only more common comorbidity for either of these is depression; but I don't know any statistics to quote. Consider, however, the possibility that the connection may be only that both ADHD and autism are among the most common childhood-onset neurological conditions, and that the symptoms they have in common are some of the most common neurological symptoms.
Callista39454.3637384259 interesting theory  I think they're distinct disorders, but they might be connected in some way. Kids with ADHD are more likely to have autism; kids with autism are also more likely to have ADHD. I have both, so I'm an example of that exact phenomenon.

What they have in common:
The ability to hyperfocus
Poor social skills
Sensory sensitivity
Easily overstimulated
Tendency towards both learning disabilities and giftedness
Wide scatter between abilities (the "gifted kid in special ed" phenomenon)
Vulnerability to depression and bipolar disorder

Those are the common denominators. Here are the symptoms of each which are unique:

Autism:
Speech delay or lack of speech
Speaking in a monotone, sing-song, extremely formal, or other oddities
Intense, narrow special interests (hobbies) which may be unusual
Repetitive movements
Much more social difficulty than ADHD
Visual thinking (Autism) and/or or hyperlexia (Asperger's)
Literal-minded

ADHD:
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty remembering responsibilities (homework/appointments/etc.)
Creativity and lateral thinking
Slowed or racing thoughts
Hyperactivity, fidgeting, or restlessness
School performance much lower than aptitude testing predicts
Responds to stimulant medication

As you can see, there's a lot of overlap; but there are also a lot of things that are characteristic of each type of thinking. Since I have both autism and ADHD, I have the benefits and drawbacks of both brain types.
I'm studying Special Education at InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico
and last semester I had a class "Nature and Necessity of Children with Learning Disabilities: ADD and ADHD. Besides learning a bit more about ADD (which I have a mild case of) and learning about ADHD I also got my hands into any kind of books and research about the subject that I could find. One book I found had an interesting title, The ADHD Autism Connection. It was written by a mother of 3 boys who were diagnosed with ADHD and Autism... It opened a whole flood of questions for me: Is there really a connection a line between Autism and ADHD? Can or Do they both have similar symptoms or have we been misdiagnosing children yet again?
I'd love to have as MUCH information as I can get. Thanks
A.R.

Luvmykids0239525.8032986111 very happy to have found so much input and advise. I work with autistic children and also have an adhd child, also have a nephew with aspergers. I feel like life without all these issues just isn"t (normal)-Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Thats me, and about 75% here.

read the writing on the wall.
I read that same book. It's make sense to me, my dd has ad/hd inattentive type but has many symptons of Aspergers. The phscologist who did her initial diagnoses said he was leaning heavily towards aspergers but could make the call due to answers on scales we filled out- had to go with (guidlines in manuels)  Ad/hd because it was another explanation of her behavior.
heard of treatment centers assumeing strong link between the two and treating for both just incase. Never had anyone ask my child to run or walk in fronty of them to check for odd gaite or unusual clumsyness. My daughter was a "toe walker" at early age, yet another possible indication of Aspergers vs. AD/HD. Certainly she has all the social cue issues associated with AS.
hard tellin not knowin!!

Bethann,

 Asperger's syndrome is very much like high functioning autism.  The range of intelligence is the same as for adhd. Those who are aspies usually are very socially delayed, have many autisitc traits, SID traits, etc.  Many also  have other comorbid conditions.  The difference between asperger's and HFA is that those dxed with asperger's don't usually have a delay in learning speech.   Every person with asperger's is different.  Some sound like little professors and some sound like much younger children.  They are 'quirky'.  They are the nerds and the geeks.  Book smart and lacking the 'common sense' of social skills. They often have poor coordination.  Aspies usually seem to lack the ability to empathize or be sympathetic.[yet ,they are but just don't know how to express themselves]  They often misread social cues and do something like giggle at a funeral .  Many are face blind., by that, I mean that they often cannot recognise someone if that person is outside of the norma sphere the aspie sees them in.  For instance, a child will recognize his teacher evry day at school.  That same chid may not recognize her in the grocery store.

Most aspies have a dry sense of humor, perserverate on things of interest, and will talk incessantly abut their likes[even if you aren't interested]

  Basically, aspies are really neat people, with their own take on the world. Different than ours maybe, but not wrong. Google in asperger's syndrome sometime.  You will find a wealth of info out there.

Thank you Granny Fran. Excellent explaination.