“The Missed Diagnosis: ADHD and Autism in Smart Kids and Adults” [Video Replay & Podcast #356]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#356), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on May 26, 2021.

Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D.
ADHD Expert: Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D. Verified Updated on August 27, 2023
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Episode Description

When very smart kids or adults chronically underperform in school, work, or social interactions, it is often assumed that they are bored, lazy, or uncaring. Parents, teachers, and employers of those who are obviously bright but floundering may not recognize two challenges that often co-occur: ADHD and autism, including signs formerly associated with Asperger syndrome.

Asperger syndrome was removed from the DSM in 2013 in favor of the umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, which many researchers and clinicians see as a mistake. In this webinar, Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D. will describe his work with high-IQ students and adults who did very well in their earlier school years, but who had increasing difficulty academically and socially as they navigated middle school, high school, college, and/or employment.

Despite their strong intelligence, some of these individuals struggled not only in managing their schoolwork, but also in understanding and managing emotions and their interactions with other people. They had both unrecognized ADHD and unrecognized signs of autism formerly classified as Asperger syndrome.

In this webinar you will learn to:

  • Recognize ADHD impairments in those who are very bright, but not hyperactive
  • Understand autism as a chronic problem in reading others’ emotions and figuring out social interactions
  • Recognize the differences between Asperger syndrome and classic autism
  • Learn about didactic psychotherapy in treating those with Asperger syndrome

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; iHeartRADIO.

Read More on ADHD in Smart Kids and Adults with ASD

Why High-IQ Patients with Autism or ADHD Face Elevated Risk

Is My Child with ADHD on the Autism Spectrum?

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on May 26, 2021, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., is a Yale-trained clinical psychologist who specializes in assessment and treatment of ADHD and related problems in children, adolescents, and adults. After serving on the clinical faculty of Yale Medical School for 25 years he has relocated to Manhattan Beach, California, to open his new Brown Clinic for Attention and Related Disorders. He is also an adjunct clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.

Dr. Brown has published 30 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and five books on ADHD. His Smart but Stuck: Emotions in Teens and Adults with ADHD was published in 2014. His newest book is Outside the Box: Rethinking ADD/ADHD in Children and Adults: A Practical Guide. You can reach him at: BrownADHDclinic.com. |See expert’s full bio »

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Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this week’s ADDitude webinar is….

Landmark College Online Dual Enrollment: Preparing students for their college transition. Our unique approach to Online Dual Enrollment courses is personalized and highly supported, enabling your student to develop and hone critical academic skills, explore their interests, and earn college credits during their junior and senior years of high school or during a gap year experience. Our model uses universal design and a guided scaffolding approach to executive function skill building.

For more information, please visit us at www.landmark.edu/dual or email us at [email protected].

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

Listener Testimonials

“This webinar was extremely insightful and it helped me gain a better perspective on neurodiversity.”

“I enjoyed Dr. Brown’s combination of fact and empathy. His use of the real-life experiences of children was a big help in understanding the effect of Asperger’s on their education and social experiences.”

“This was exactly what I needed. I have a better understanding of the help my high-achieving 11 year old daughter needs now!”

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