Aspergers vs. ADHD

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I have read some places speculations of placing ADHD on the Autism Spectrum below Aspergers, though i know psychologically speaking there is a specific restriction that ADHD cannot be diagnosed comorbid to an ASD, though i havent ever found the reason why. Anyone have a good source exploring this subject? The reason i ask is i feel i somewhat range between the two. Somedays being deeper into spectrum, others simply attention deficit. I know i have some peculiarities that are distinctly aspergerian (hypersenstitivies and such) but i just dont understand why there is such a separation imposed between ADD and Aspergr, when they share so many similarites. Actually i know the principle by which they arent inherently one in the same, for example one of the differential diagnosis for ADHD is thyroid condition that can cause practically identical mental difficulties to ADD, but its absolutely a hormonal malfunction, corrected by hormone therapy i think. But obviously the reason for that differential diagnosis is clearly defined, whereas i havent found anywhere spelled out why ADHD is so fundamentally different from asperger.

Who and/or what says that comorbid diagnoses of ADHD and AS aren't allowed? I've been diagnosed with both ADHD Combined-type and AS. However, I believe that there are many individuals who receive a diagnosis of AS after being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.

The DSM-IV says that ADHD cannot occur during the course of a pervasive developmental disorder. However, I think quite a few clinicians ignore this due to the fact that 50-75% of people diagnosed on the autistic spectrum seem to fit the criteria for ADHD as well. Going the other way, I think the number I've seen is approximately 5% of people diagnosed with ADHD fit the criteria for an autistic spectrum disorder.

Since, per many researchers cited by Tony Attwood, it's fairly difficult for anyone to fit the criteria for Asperger's Syndrome as written in the DSM-IV, I think the criteria themselves are not always completely trustworthy. I think that a lot of clinicians look at supplemental material or their own knowledge to go beyond the strict criteria.

I have AS and ADD not ADHD I was always the kid who was lost in the clouds. Never ever hyper. I don't agree with lumping all attention deficits together as ADD is nothing like ADHD.

I saw a TV show on PBS about ADHD. With examples of those who have it and those who love with cameo by famous people like the founder of Virgin Records.

It struck me as being comparable but opposite of AS.
ADHD'ers are the thrill seeking bungee jumpers.

AS'ers are the introverted geeks.

But thats my highly un scientific opinion.

My son was originally diagnosed with adhd but now he is very little adhd like and much more aspergers

I think that when it comes to attention and executive dysfunction issues there is some overlap, but not in the rest of it. Most people with ASD have the symptoms of some type of ADHD.. It even seems to me like a lot or even most with ASD have more severe symptoms of inattention and executive dysfunction than the average person who is diagnosed with ADHD because, for the most part, your average ADHDer can keep their life together better than I can or a lot of the people on here seem able to.

Other than that.. Most people with just ADHD have none of the core issues related to ASD. Some might stim a little, but they arent otherwise repetitive and don't have social deficits, except in extreme cases where it could have some effects on socializing. Some even seem to be hyper-social. There's no way i can see most of the people I've come across with ADHD as anywhere near the autistic spectrum. Some are even better at socializing and having a variety of interests than your average NT.

Well I've done better on ADHD medication than I have with erm, AS support but I am clearly autistic. I also only need the smallest dosage because the adult dosage would just give me hypertension and that gives me a whole lot of problems.

I sometimes feel like I'm the only one who can tell the difference. I can separate my autistic and ADHD symptoms really well.

I also think ADHD should be higher than AS on the ASD spectrum because ADHD on its own does not give the same social issues and rigidity.

I have the combined type of ADHD, along with high functioning autism and temporal lobe epilepsy - it makes my life rather interesting. For all my hate of change my own brain doesn't stay the same during a whole day.

I still don't understand how anyone can consider it being part of the Autistic spectrum when it doesn't include the core autistic traits of social impairment and repetition. Can someone explain this? Executive dysfunction and problems regulating attention are basically a common part of autism too(meaning that most of us can also be diagnosed with some sort of adhd if that extra diagnosis is useful), but they aren't what it is defined by. If someone who has great natural social skills and well-rounded "normal" interests(like many with ADHD) can be autistic, then the word no longer makes sense. If we're going to add ADHD to the autistic spectrum, it makes just as much(if not more) sense to also add some other groups that share a few traits with most autistic people(yet not the main group of traits) like: people with OCD, people with Sensory Processing Disorder, people with Social Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenics, people with Stereotypic Movement Disorder, people with almost any personality disorder, introverts, people who cut the tags off of their clothing, etc.

Note: i'm diagnosed with both AS and Inattentive ADHD. I think an ADHD diagnosis is good to have if you meet the criteria and it creates a significant issue for you, because it's useful in creating a better picture of your behavior and your mind. I still see my ADHD symptoms as also part of my AS, but since those symptoms aren't included in EVERY case of AS(or at least not to a particularly significant degree) it still seems more complete to have both diagnoses. It would NOT, however, make any sense whatsoever to declare me autistic based SOLELY on those ADHD symptoms that i have... Nor would it make sense to declare me autistic based solely on my sensory issues, or even solely on my obsessive interests. I'm autistic because i have the social issues and repetitive behaviors/obsessive interests, along with sensory issues, executive functioning issues, and everything else. I share some of the way i'm wired in common with people with ADHD, but there's a lot of stuff along with it too.

I CAN see it being classed as some sort of developmental disorder.. Just not as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder(or Autistic Spectrum Disorder), because those have to do with social development, flexibility, etc.

Some people with ADHD do have the same social issues and repetition but they probably are undiagnosed and could also have AS.

I think many disorders are similar to autism/AS. But you do strike a good point about it not being on the spectrum and it's not, the similarities are so close and common in people with either disorder that it seems like it could be on the spectrum.