Can ADD be misdiagnosed as Aspergers

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I was diagnosed with mild AS when I was 9, but i have noticed I share some symptoms of ADD, I lose things quite a lot and i'm quite forgetful. Also, i'm not very good at paying attention to some things, would like some feedback please btw I don't show that many symptoms of AS, i'm just a bit quirky

3/4 people with autism could qualify for a diagnosis of add. But technically you cannot have both

Yes it can be misdiagnosed but sometimes people also have both. But it still be a misdiagnoses because to diagnose them and say that is what their problem is is still a misdiagnoses because it does not explain everything.

Yeah. Totally possible. And totally possible to have both.

It's possible for people with ADHD to be a little socially awkward because they have problems paying attention to the people they're interacting with. If that's your only social problem, then you might want to look into a re-eval.

But if you're getting what you need with the diagnosis you have, why bother, right?

More likely for people with AS to be misdiagnosed as ADD. I've personally met several parents whos children were diagnosed with ADD and later AS.

It can be misdiagnosed however it is possible to have both as well.

YES!! - all of these conditions are diagnosed by a "professional" interviewing you and running some non-definitive test. Then they say what you have with at best loose standards! There are countless cases of misdiagnosis and changed diagnosis in this field. Also the last I heard that AS, Autism, ADD, ADHD and a few others are now considered to be on the same spectrum.

As it turns out the diagnosis you get may have as much to do with who is doing it as the traits or symptoms you present with. H**l some professionals admit to misdiagnosing psychopathy as AS on purpose because a diagnosis of psychopathy is such a horid diagnosis - and we do not want to hurt their feelings and at least there is some hope and designated treatments for AS. These professionals seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that giving a patent the wrong treatment has no chance of success.

Here is anther fly in the ointment ---- you could be both!!



My guess is that you are much more likely to be misdiagnosed into the wrong part of the spectrum than you are to be misdiagnosed as on or off the spectrum completely.

Stop assuming that the "Professionals" really know what they are doing.

Ermm, yes you can. I have asperger and add and many of my aspie friends are combies too

No, you can't. Going by DSMIV someone can not be diagnosed with ADHD or ADD and Autism. Did you read my first sentence? But yes sometimes psychs disregard that rule and diagnosis someone with both

They disregard it because current practice is to ignore that rule because it is not empirically supported.

It will be dropped in the DSM-5.

Hadn't looked into whether the rule was being dropped, thanks for letting me know. I wasn't saying there should be the rule. I just didn't understand why Heidi was saying I was wrong when I was not.