Yes, it's possible to have both conditions. It's common for children with an autism spectrum disorder to also have signs of ADHD. Also, some kids who've been diagnosed with ADHD may also have a history of autism, with symptoms like trouble with social skills or being extra sensitive to textures of clothes.
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.
Yes, ADHD is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). There are several types of disabilities, including but not limited to: learning disability. cognitive disability.
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Traits like distractibility and impulsivity, for example, are part of the ADHD diagnosis. While they're not part of the autism diagnosis, they appear in most people with autism. Speech delays and idiosyncrasies are part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and not the ADHD diagnosis.
Can ADHD mask autism? Yes. For those who have both conditions, it's more common for the autism diagnosis to come much later compared to those that have only autism. This is likely due to ADHD symptom presentations masking the autistic behaviors.
Causes of ADHD
In addition to genetics, scientists are studying other possible causes and risk factors including: Brain injury. Exposure to environmental risks (e.g., lead) during pregnancy or at a young age. Alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy.
Is ADHD inherited from Mom or Dad? You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents.
Only about 9% of the kids got over or seemed to permanently “outgrow” their ADHD. The condition appeared to remain stable in less than 11% of people in the study. Most with ADHD showed changes over time. Based on reports by those in the study, ADHD symptoms most often seemed to go up and down.
Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD are related in several ways. ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other.
A delay in speech or language is one of the earliest signs we have for kids that do go on to get a diagnosis of ADHD later in childhood. In this 2012 study, researchers found that two-thirds of the elementary-aged kids with ADHD had a speech or language delay at 18 months.
Some developmental health professionals refer to PDD-NOS as “subthreshold autism." In other words, it's the diagnosis they use for someone who has some but not all characteristics of autism or who has relatively mild symptoms.
The mind of a person with ADHD is full of the minutiae of life (“Where are my keys?” “Where did I park the car?”), so there is little room left for new thoughts and memories. Something has to be discarded or forgotten to make room for new information. Often the information individuals with ADHD need is in their memory…
Autism is very distinct from ADHD, but the core symptoms of ADHD-Combined type, i.e., attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, would appear to also be features of autism. ASD and ADHD are neurobiological disorders characterized by similar underlying neuropsychological “deficits”.
Research shows the success rate for stimulant use is near 80 percent. These medications can bring substantial improvement to “core” ADHD symptoms that undermine social, behavioral, or academic progress in a child with autism, such as poor focus, inability to complete a task, and impulsivity.
Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.
Early signs of autism include atypical social and communication behaviour, repetitive behaviour or movements, and intense interests.
Some common behavioral signs may include: Hypersensitivity to certain sights, sounds, smells, lights, textures, or touch from others. Obsessed with and repeating unusual activities. Difficulty transitioning from one activity to another.
Usually, the most difficult times for persons with ADHD are their years from middle school through the first few years after high school. Those are the years when students are faced with the widest range of tasks to do and the least opportunity to escape from the tasks that they struggle with or find to be boring.