adhd autism connection
is adhd a form of autism? What exactly is the link?
No, ADHD is not a form or autism, although many individuals on the autism spectrum exhibit ADHD-like behavior. In some cases, children who are "high-functioning" autistics (a term I hate, but one the experts use) -- meaning average or better intelligence as measured by standardized tests, ability to communicate verbally, calculate, and write -- may be diagnosed first with ADHD. It is important in getting a diagnosis to make sure the person evaluating the child has had experience with children who have been diagnosed with both conditions, or try to get an evaluation by a developmental pediatrician or a psychiatrist or psychologist who has experience testing and evaluating children for both ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.
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Hi there
This is an intriguing question. And you will probably get different answers to this depending upon who you ask.
In the autism world it is not uncommon for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD and then later to be diagnosed with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. There are definitely features which are similar. I think if we looked at connections between disorders you would find considerable overlap between Pervasive Developmental Disorders, ADHD, and even Bipolar Disorder. Sometimes it is very hard for clinicians to separate some of these disorders although in many cases the differences can be clear cut.
There is an author out there named Diane Kennedy. She is a parent who wrote the book called, "The ADHD-Autism Connection: A Step Towards More Accurate Diagnoses and Treatments."
You can find more information about this book here.
And you can find a review of her book here.
These are my personal thoughts on the matter. If my son did not have the diagnosis of autism he would be given the diagnosis of ADHD for sure. He has attentional problems and tons of hyperactivity but these are not his only issues. You can have ADHD and definitely not be on the autism spectrum. But it is my belief that if you have a child who is on the autism spectrum...they are going to have some of the same challenges as the child who has ADHD. Perhaps some would disagree with me but those are my thoughts on the matter.
Very interesting question...I am hoping that others chime in with their thoughts.
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Research Shows
There is no known cause of Autism at this point in time. We do know that there are neurological differences in the brain of a child with Autism. In some families there have been found to be other relatives with disorders in the Autism family such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Bi-polar Disorder and others that suggest there may be a genetic basis to the disorder. The University of Washington Autism Center does ongoing research and is a good source of information. Autism is not a mental illness and children with Autism do not choose to exhibit the negative behavior associated with it. Although there is no known cure at this time, there are therapies and medications that can have a positive affect on the symptoms. Some characteristics improve as the child gets older. It's important to remember that a therapy, teaching style, or medication that works great for one child with Autism may have a completely opposite affect on another child. It's important to evaluate solutions you hear about them and use them first as a trial that is carefully watched.
*this note is from the autism society of washington!!