About ADHD

Everybody can have difficulty sitting still, paying More than 75 percent of children with ADHD continue to experience attention or controlling impulsive behavior significant symptoms in adulthood. once in a while. For some people, however, the In early adulthood, ADHD may be problems are so pervasive and persistent that associated with depression, mood they interfere with every aspect of their life: or conduct disorders and substance home, academic, social and work. abuse.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Adults with ADHD often cope with (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder difficulties at work and in their affecting 11 percent of school-age children personal and family lives related to (Visser, et al., 2014.) Symptoms continue into ADHD symptoms. adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases (Brown, 2013.) ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD. The current name reflects the importance Individuals with ADHD can be very successful of the inattention aspect of the disorder as well in life. However, without identification and as the other characteristics of the disorder such proper treatment, ADHD may have serious asSymptoms hyperactivity and impulsivity. consequences, including school failure, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, Typically, ADHD symptoms arise in early accidental injuries and job failure. Early childhood. According to the DSM-5, several identification and treatment are extremely symptoms are required to be present before important. the age of 12. Many parents report excessive motor activity during the toddler years, but Medical science first documented children ADHD symptoms can be hard to distinguish exhibiting inattentiveness, impulsivity and from the impulsivity, inattentiveness and active hyperactivity in 1902. Since that time, the behavior that is typical for kids under the age of disorder has been given numerous names, National including minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, and Resource attention-deficit disorder with or without Center hyperactivity. With the Diagnostic and Statistical on ADHD A Program of CHADD Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) classification system, the disorder has been renamed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or help4adhd.org ADHD and1 Autism Spectrum Disorder

UTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, or ASD, includes what used to be called Autistic Disorder, Asperger syndrome, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified, all of which affect a person’s Asocial and emotional skills and nonverbal communication. ASD has many similarities to ADHD, but there are also differences between the two.

Can a person be diagnosed with ADHD and ASD? Why do ADHD and ASD coexist so often and what More than half of all individuals who have been di- are the similarities between them? agnosed with ASD also have signs of ADHD. In fact, Both ADHD and ASD are neurodevelopmental dis- ADHD is the most common coexisting condition in orders (brain development has been affected in some children with ASD. On the flip side, up to a quarter way). That means both conditions/disorders affect the of children with ADHD have low-level signs of ASD, central nervous system, which is responsible for move- which might include having difficulty with social skills ment, language, memory, and social and focusing skills. or being very sensitive to clothing textures, for example. A number of scientific studies have shown that the two conditions often coexist, but researchers have not yet figured out why they do. With ADHD or ASD, brain development has been affected in some way. Most importantly, that includes the brain’s executive functioning, which is responsible for decision making, impulse control, time manage- ment, focus, and organization skills. For many children, social skills are also affected. Both ADHD and ASD are more common in boys. Although adults can have both ADHD and ASD, the combination is not as common as it is in children. While ASD is considered a lifelong disorder, long-term studies have shown that in one-third to two-thirds of children with ADHD, symptoms last into adulthood.

What are the differences between ADHD and ASD? Many children are first diagnosed with ADHD around the time they start preschool or kindergarten because their behavior contrasts with that of their classmates. ADHD can cause children to be restless all the time, act impulsively, and have a hard time paying attention. But some children with ADHD have different signs—focus- ing all their attention on one toy, for instance, and not wanting to play with anything else.

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SHUTTERSTOCK / LIGHTSPRING For some children with ASD, the signs are noticeable or insensitive to light, noise, touch, before they reach their second birthday. For others, signs of pain, smell, or taste or have a strong ASD may not be clear until they are school-aged and their interest in them. They may have set social behaviors are clearly different from their classmates’. food preferences based on color or Children with ASD often avoid eye contact and don’t seem texture and may make gestures such interested in playing or engaging with others. Their ability to as repeated hand flapping. Their speak may develop slowly or not at all. They may be preoccu- intense focus means people pied with sameness in textures of food or in making repetitive with ASD are often able to movements, especially with their hands and fingers. remember detailed facts for a long time and may be ADHD- and ASD-specific behaviors particularly good at math, Often, children with ADHD have difficulty focusing on one science, art, and music. SHUTTERSTOCK / VETRE activity or task. When they are engaged in their daily activi- ties they may be easily distracted. It is challenging for children Treatment overview with ADHD to complete one task before jumping to another, The best medical provider for someone who has been diag- and they are often physically unable to sit still. But some chil- nosed with both ADHD and ASD is a doctor who has experi- dren with ADHD may be so interested in a topic or activity ence treating both conditions. that they fixate on it, or hyperfocus. Although focusing on Treatment for ADHD usually includes medication. On the one thing can be positive, it may mean that children have other hand, because the medication options for ASD are still difficulty moving their attention to other activities when they limited, children with ASD may respond better to non-med- are asked to do so. ication alternatives. Those might include behavior therapy to Children with ASD are most likely to be overfocused, help manage symptoms and skills training to help cope with unable to shift their attention to the next task. They are often daily life. For a child with ASD, paying attention to diet is inflexible when it comes to their routines, with low toler- essential, because sensory-based food restriction can result in ance for change. That may mean taking the same route and nutritional gaps. For someone with ADHD, stimulant medi- eating the same things every day. Many are highly sensitive cations can cause a loss of appetite. SHUTTERSTOCK / NEW AFRICA SHUTTERSTOCK

help4adhd.org 2 Medication While the symptoms of ADHD generally re- symptoms, including hyperactivity and spond well to the most commonly prescribed impulsivity. The most commonly pre- medications, ASD symptoms are less likely scribed medications are methylphenidate to do so. Symptoms of ASD that often over- (Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate, Quillivant), lap with ADHD, such as hyperactivity, im- amphetamine (Adderall, Dexedrine, Vy- pulsiveness, and inattention, may respond to vanse, Dyanavel), atomoxetine (Strattera), the medications used to treat ADHD, if not and guanfacine (Intuniv, Tenex). However, as well. Medications to treat ASD are now when they are used to treat patients with being developed, and irritability, aggression, both ADHD and ASD, the stimulants— and self-injury that are related Aboutto ASD usual -ADHDmethylphenidate and amphetamine—seem ly respond to antipsychotic medications. less effective and cause more side effects, Medication is frequently part of the including social withdrawal, depression, treatment plan for children with ADHD and irritability, than when they are used to because it helps reduce some of the major treat ADHD alone. SHUTTERSTOCK / FENG YU Everybody can have difficulty sitting still, paying More than 75 percent of children with ADHD continue to experience attention or controlling impulsive behavior significant symptoms in adulthood. once in a while. For some people, however, the For more information In early adulthood, ADHD may be problems are so pervasive and persistent that associated with depression, mood Research Units on Pediatricthey interferePsychopharmacology with every aspect (RUPP) of their Thelife: MTA Cooperative Group.or conduct (Dec 1999).disorders A 14-Month and substance Autism Network. (2005).home, A Randomized, academic, social Controlled, and work. Randomized Clinical Trial abuse.of Treatment Strategies for Crossover Trial of Methylphenidate in Pervasive Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Archives of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Developmental Disorders With Hyperactivity. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(12):1073-1086.Adults with ADHD often cope with (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder difficulties at work and in their General Psychiatry, 62(11):1266-1274. affecting 11 percent of school-age childrenResearch Units on Pediatricpersonal Psychopharmacology and family lives related(RUPP) to Handen, B.L. et al. (2015).(Visser, Atomoxetine, et al., 2014.) Parent Symptoms Training, continue Autism into Network. (2002).ADHD Randomized symptoms. Clinical Trial of adulthood in more than three-quarters of and Their Combination in Children With Autism Spectrum Risperidone For Irritability in Autism. New England Journal of cases (Brown, 2013.) ADHD is characterized by Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Medicine, 347(5):314-321. developmentally inappropriate levels of Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.Rommelse, Nanda et al. (May 2018). Differentiating Psychiatry, 54(11), 905-915. ADHD. The current name reflects the importance between ADHD andof the ASD inattention in childhood: aspect some of the directions disorder for as well Individuals with ADHD can be very successfulpractitioners . European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, pp 1–3. in life. However, without identification and as the other characteristics of the disorder such proper treatment, ADHD may have serious Symptomsas hyperactivity and impulsivity. consequences, including school failure, family stress and disruption, depression, problems with relationships, substance abuse, delinquency, Typically, ADHD symptoms arise in early accidental injuries and job failure. Early childhood. According to the DSM-5, several identification and treatment are extremely symptoms are required to be present before important. the age of 12. Many parents report excessive motor activity during the toddler years, but Medical science first documented children ADHD symptoms can be hard to distinguish exhibiting inattentiveness,For further impulsivity information, and please from the impulsivity, inattentiveness and active hyperactivity incontact 1902. SinceNational that Resource time, the Center on behavior that is typical for kids under the age of disorder has beenADHD: given numerous A Program names, of CHADD National including minimal brain dysfunction, hyperkinetic reaction of childhood, and Resource 4601 Presidents Drive, Suite 300 attention-deficit disorder with or without Center hyperactivity. With Lanham,the Diagnostic MD 20706-4832 and Statistical on ADHD A Program of CHADD Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)1-800-233-4050 classification system, the disorder haswww.chadd.org/nrc been renamed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or

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