Aspergers vs. ADHD

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ADD and ADHD aren't different its just a newer term, however there are different forms of ADHD, I for example am diagnosed with inattentive type which lacks the outward hyperness, I am also diagnosed with asperger's and attend an adult ASD/ADHD clinic once a month.

I am very interested in this because my son is 5.5 and I am really trying to determine if we should at some point try meds for ADHD. I am continuing to hold off, because I am not so sure if he really has it. He was diagnosed as PDD-NOS/possible Aspergers at 2.5 years old. He definitely fits the criteria for autism. He has communication and social deficits. He does have attention deficits, but he has never been hyper. However, the older he gets and the more he is required to sit and pay attention, he will start to stim (vocal stims and flapping hands and shaking head) in order to avoid doing the work. He is capable of doing the work, I just think for some reason, he doesn't want to or at that moment something more exciting is going on in his head. He is learning though, but I am afraid he will continue to be placed in special ed because of his disruptive nature. He is speaking in full sentences at this time, but he does have the repetiveness and sometimes says things out of context.

I am not really considering any meds at this time, although I did meet one mom with a son that sounded almost like my son, and she has him on a very low dose of Concerta and she said it has made a big difference.

Pensieve if you see this, would you mind explaining what the differences are?

Search it, some one made a list comparing the common behaviors a while ago.

I think people only see the strong similarities when people have both and the two conditions, therefore, overlap. I have autism, my niece has ADHD. I do not have ADHD (any type), and my niece is not on the spectrum. Nobody would mistake me for ADHD or her for autistic, although I am clearly autistic, and she is clearly ADHD. They are two separate conditions. Most of the symptoms are not the same and those that are similar only appear to be so on the surface. The roots causes are quite different and clearly either autistic in nature or from adhd. The only time it might be difficult to distinguish where the particular symptom may lie is in a person that has both conditions, and again I say that those few symptoms are only similar on the surface. They are not identical.

^^^^^

I've said this before and I hope people will continue to say that. I live in a house full of people who have ADHD, and they're all quite different from me. More social, less sensory sensitivity.

I understand how misdiagnoses happen, but I do not understand how people develop this idea that ADHD and any kind of autism are that similar. There's overlap - sensory issues are common with ADHD, for example - and executive dysfunction is common with autism, but overall, they work in different ways.

There is some overlap but, I've noted in my daughter that her ADHD and her AS pull her in opposite directions in many ways. For us, they are clearly two separate conditions needing different approaches.

Perfect post for this thread. I think a lot of people don't know the difference.

I know the difference between ADD and ADHD, but I think a lot of people don't.

There's basically two kinds of ADHD - combined type (inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms) and inattentive type (only inattentive symptoms). The latter is often called ADD, and some people who are diagnosed with it tend to see it as a special unique thing, but really, the majority of people diagnosed with ADHD are combined type, and have all the same symptoms that the inattentive types have in addition to hyperactive/impulsive. They're not two mutually exclusive conditions. Unlike AS and ADHD, ADHD and ADD do not simply overlap, but ADHD's definition contains all of what is described as ADD as well.

Another element of diagnosis with ADHD-PI/ADD is that someone can have multiple H/I symptoms (five) and still be diagnosed PI. They're not two different things, and they're not entirely separate from one another.

The third type of ADHD - Hyperactive type with no inattentive symptoms? You're only likely to see children diagnosed with that at a young age. As they get older, they'll be defined as inattentive or combined.

But how about someone who is not diagnosed with autism, but mild Aspergers? There are two posters here in the thread that are comparing a moderate to a possible heavy expression of autism, to ADHD.

Does the gap lessen?

Moog once posted a thought about the meetings he's been to, as showing a marked difference, so I may have answered that question. I think Moog has at least a moderate case.

Moog once described playing some kind of sport with some people with AS, and he said he was the only one who was really cheering/participating beyond simply playing or watching.

I may be misremembering.

There is a genetic relation between the two, so maybe the underlying cause between the behaviors isn't always so different after all.

If the underlying cause were the same, stimulants would probably help autistic symptoms fairly effectively.

Wow, well remembered!

I went to a bit of a mini meet with people with AS and/or autism, various manifestations... and there were definitely some severe ADHD behaviours on display as well. It was very educational.

It was a game of snooker/pool. The social reciprocity that was lacking during the game was remarkable... There was conversation, definitely, but the little verbal and non verbal ways that NTs keep a social connection going were notably absent. I was watching and passed a comment about a well played shot or whatever... how NT of me. I wonder if they thought I was being manipulative.

I find the way aspies broker a conversation quite refreshing, because I don't really like small talk, even if I do tend to remember to attempt it.

I have noticed in recent years that I can learn to socialise reasonably well. I tend to find socialising somewhat anxiety provoking (I can manage that to an extent now with meditation techniques) and energy draining, which can add up to making it hard to maintain interest levels, and social niceties like remembering to acknowledge the existence of others gradually go out the window.

I am not diagnosed with either AS or ADHD (currently being assessed for the latter)

An extensive discussion about the differences might be rather interesting.

It wouldn't surprise me if AS/ADHD were on the same 'spectrum' as it were, or loosely associated through being different clusters of neurological development effects that often overlap.

Last edited by Moog on 23 Jan 2012, 8:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

That's a good point, but what about those with ADHD who aren't medicated, and those some with ADHD act "normal" when medicated?

I am diagnosed with ADD/Inattentive, although the diagnostic process was just 2 or 3 questions and the decision to see if meds worked. Also there were no questions about how I am socially. The meds help but definitely do not fix. The way they help is I can sort things in my mind more easily, i.e. decide which should take precedence when I'm getting ready for work and it also helps keep me from getting irritated from overload. They only help to a degree though. I still have big problems with starting things and then transitioning from them. I'm still easily exhausted from mundane daily activities. I have had to switch to Strattera (non-stimulant) because after years on Ritalin and Concerta I developed severe facial tics. Incidentally, For what it's worth, re: Moog's ball game, I would definitely not be cheering and rooting. I am too detached for that.