Is My Child with ADHD on the Autism Spectrum?
Traits associated with autism spectrum disorder can look a lot like ADHD.
Is ADHD on the Autism Spectrum?
Hallmarks of autism and ADHD often overlap — social challenges, sensory differences, only focusing on things of interest, and trouble with transitions, among other signs. Autism and ADHD are also often seen together. Despite the overlap, ADHD and autism are separate conditions or neurotypes. ADHD is not part of the autism spectrum.
Signs of Autism in Children
Per the DSM-5-TR, autism in children is characterized by the following signs seen across multiple contexts.
Social Communication and Interaction Challenges
- Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity (e.g., abnormal social approach, failure of normal back-and-forth conversation, reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect, failure to initiate or respond to social interactions).
- Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interactions (e.g., poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication, eye contact and body language abnormalities, lack of facial expressions, lack of understanding and use of gestures).
Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors
- stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., lining up toys, echolalia, flapping arms)
- insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior, so much so that autistic children may feel extreme distress with small changes in their routines and may struggle with transitions.
- highly restricted, fixated interests (i.e.g, special interests).
- hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement)
The ADHD-Autism Overlap
While estimates vary across studies, one review finds that 50% to 70 of autistic individuals also present with comorbid ADHD.
[Take This Self-Test: Is My Child Autistic? Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder]
Telling apart symptoms of ADHD from autism can be tricky, as both neurotypes can share the following signs or traits:
- Attention difficulties. In ADHD, inattention, distractibility, and hyperfocus are common manifestations. Executive functioning challenges are also common across both conditions.
- Social challenges. Impulsivity, distractibility, difficulty sustaining attention, excessive talking, and interrupting are often behind social challenges that many children with ADHD experience.
- Difficulty with transitions, which sometimes results in meltdowns and temper tantrums.
- Sensory processing differences. Sensitivity to sounds, textures, smells, foods, lighting, and touch are commonly seen across ADHD and autism.
- Masking, or attempting to appear neurotypical in day-to-day life.
Autism Diagnosis and Support
Getting Evaluated for Autism. If you suspect that your child may be autistic, consult with a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, a child psychiatrist, or a psychologist with expertise in autism. The evaluation typically involves observing your child and talking to you about their development, such as asking questions about your child’s social interaction and communication skills. Your child may undergo tests to determine their level of intellect and academic abilities and to assess their current level in speech, language, and visual-motor problem-solving.
Assist the Doctor’s Evaluation. Write down any behaviors you have noticed, vital personal information (any significant stress or recent life changes), a list of medications your child takes, and questions you want to ask the doctor.
[Free Download: The ADHD-Autism Link in Children]
Support Plan for Autistic Children. Most children benefit from early, specialized interventions that focus on behavior, social skills, and coping strategies. Cognitive behavior therapy can help them manage obsessive behavior and anxiety. Many schools offer pragmatic language therapy, which supports social interaction learning. Make sure that social skills accommodations are part of their child’s individualized education program (IEP).
Many autistic children can lead independent lives; parents and professionals can help children advocate for themselves as they approach adulthood.
Autism and ADHD: Next Steps
- Watch: An Open Conversation with Temple Grandin – Autism Expert, Author, and Scientist
- Read: Do My Child’s Poor Social Skills Suggest Autism?
- Read: 4 Autism Myths — Dispelled
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