symptoms

2.ADHD often have difficulty paying attention to the same thing for too long, and they may get distracted easily.


3.


4.Children with autism may have a limited scope of interest. They may seem to obsess over things that they enjoy and have difficulty focusing on things that they have no interest in. They may be able to recall facts and details easily, and some may excel in math, science, music, or art.


5. https://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/antidepressants/a7933/lofepramine/


6.It may be easiest to spot these signs while the child is doing their homework. A child with ADHD may not be able to pay attention to any subject.


7.


8.An autistic child may have high levels of focus on their favorite topics, but may not be able to engage in subjects that interest them less.


9.


10.Communication


11.


12.Communication difficulties are characteristic of autism. Some children with ADHD also have these difficulties, but they typically present in different ways.


14.Children with ADHD may:


15.•talk continually


16.•want to have the last word


17.•not notice how their words affect other people


18.•interrupt others


19.


20.Autistic children may:


21.


22.•have difficulty expressing their emotions and thoughts


23.•not use gestures to communicate


24.•struggle with eye contact


25.•fixate on one topic of conversation


26.•play differently — they may not understand turn-taking or imaginative play


27.•not initiate or respond to social interactions


28.


29.Routine and structure


30.


31.Children with ADHD can become bored quickly with a structure that they find uninteresting, including that of the classroom. Without variety, they may also lose interest in activities.


32.


33.In contrast, autistic children often demonstrate an insistence on sameness, wanting to adhere to routines or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior.


34.


35.For instance, they may read the same book over and over or want the same foods for dinner every evening. Changes to routine can cause upset and irritability.


36.


37.


38.


39.





46.


47.


48.


49.


50.Is there a relationship between autism and ADHD?


51.


52.There is some overlap in the symptoms of autism and ADHD, and it is possible to have both conditions.


53.


54.Prior to 2013, APA criteria did not allow doctors to diagnose people with autism and ADHD at the same time. As a result, there is very little research involving the conditions occurring together.


55.


56.However, medical professionals now recognize that many children meet the criteria for both.


57.


58.The CDC estimate that 14% of children with ADHD in the U.S. also have autism spectrum disorder. Other research puts this number at 15–25%.


59.


60.Researchers do not fully understand what causes either condition, although genetic factors likely play a role in both.


61.


62.Diagnosis


63.


64.Parents and caregivers who are concerned that their child may have ADHD, autism, or both should talk to their family doctor or pediatrician. The doctor may recommend referring the child to a child behavior disorder specialist.


65.


66.A doctor will base an ADHD diagnosis on symptoms that have been present in the past 6 months. If a doctor suspects autism, they may look into a child's behavior and development over previous years.


67.


68.In either case, they may wish to hear from teachers and other caregivers, as well as parents.


69.


70.


71.The doctor will also want to rule out conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of autism or ADHD. These issues include:


72.•hearing problems


73.•learning difficulties


74.•sleep disorders


75.


76.In addition, the doctor may uncover symptoms of co-occurring disorders, such as:


77.•social anxiety disorder


78.•oppositional defiant disorder


79.


80.According to a 2010 study that looked at data from more than 2,500 autistic children in the U.S., 83% of the children also had at least one other developmental disorder, while 10% had at least one psychiatric disorder.


81

213.Visit our ADHD / ADD category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on ADHD / ADD.


246.


247.



ADHD often have difficulty paying attention to the same thing for too long, and they may get distracted easily.

Children with autism may have a limited scope of interest. They may seem to obsess over things that they enjoy and have difficulty focusing on things that they have no interest in. They may be able to recall facts and details easily, and some may excel in math, science, music, or art.

It may be easiest to spot these signs while the child is doing their homework. A child with ADHD may not be able to pay attention to any subject.

An autistic child may have high levels of focus on their favorite topics, but may not be able to engage in subjects that interest them less.

Communication

Communication difficulties are characteristic of autism. Some children with ADHD also have these difficulties, but they typically present in different ways.

Children with ADHD may:
•talk continually
•want to have the last word
•not notice how their words affect other people
•interrupt others

Autistic children may:

•have difficulty expressing their emotions and thoughts
•not use gestures to communicate
•struggle with eye contact
•fixate on one topic of conversation
•play differently — they may not understand turn-taking or imaginative play
•not initiate or respond to social interactions

Routine and structure

Children with ADHD can become bored quickly with a structure that they find uninteresting, including that of the classroom. Without variety, they may also lose interest in activities.

In contrast, autistic children often demonstrate an insistence on sameness, wanting to adhere to routines or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior.

For instance, they may read the same book over and over or want the same foods for dinner every evening. Changes to routine can cause upset and irritability.







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Is there a relationship between autism and ADHD?

There is some overlap in the symptoms of autism and ADHD, and it is possible to have both conditions.

Prior to 2013, APA criteria did not allow doctors to diagnose people with autism and ADHD at the same time. As a result, there is very little research involving the conditions occurring together.

However, medical professionals now recognize that many children meet the criteria for both.

The CDC estimate that 14% of children with ADHD in the U.S. also have autism spectrum disorder. Other research puts this number at 15–25%.

Researchers do not fully understand what causes either condition, although genetic factors likely play a role in both.

Diagnosis

Parents and caregivers who are concerned that their child may have ADHD, autism, or both should talk to their family doctor or pediatrician. The doctor may recommend referring the child to a child behavior disorder specialist.

A doctor will base an ADHD diagnosis on symptoms that have been present in the past 6 months. If a doctor suspects autism, they may look into a child's behavior and development over previous years.

In either case, they may wish to hear from teachers and other caregivers, as well as parents.


The doctor will also want to rule out conditions that can cause symptoms similar to those of autism or ADHD. These issues include:
•hearing problems
•learning difficulties
•sleep disorders

In addition, the doctor may uncover symptoms of co-occurring disorders, such as:
•social anxiety disorder
•oppositional defiant disorder

According to a 2010 study that looked at data from more than 2,500 autistic children in the U.S., 83% of the children also had at least one other developmental disorder, while 10% had at least one psychiatric disorder.

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Treatment


speech therapy being conducted by doctor sitting with young girl who is holding a mirror









A child with autism or ADHD may benefit from behavioral therapy or medication.

Treatment varies, depending on the child, their symptoms, and the presence of other conditions. Some treatments for autism and ADHD include:
•behavioral therapy
•medication

Behavioral therapy is typically the first line of treatment for younger children. For older children, a doctor may recommend a combination of behavioral therapy and medication.

Autistic children may benefit from additional forms of therapy, depending on their needs. Some options include:
•counseling
•educational interventions
•occupational therapy
•sensory integration
•speech therapy

Training and education can also better enable parents and caregivers to help children manage their symptoms.

Summary

Autism and ADHD are separate conditions that share some symptoms. Any parent or caregiver who is concerned that a child is showing signs of one or both conditions should talk to their doctor.

Although there is no cure for either condition, several therapies and medications can help children make progress in the areas that they find challenging.




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ADHD / ADD

Autism

Pediatrics / Children's Health





Additional information



Article last reviewed by Mon 1 July 2019.

Visit our ADHD / ADD category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on ADHD / ADD.

All references are available in the References tab.




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