Can autism be masked by ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may mask autism in children who have both conditions. Many of these children receive their autism diagnosis an average of four years later than those who have autism alone, suggests a new study1.

Are you on the autism spectrum if you have ADHD?

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.

Do ADHD tests also test for autism?

Most clinical interviews include completing one or more of the ADHD rating scales, as well as other ADHD tests. A proper ADHD test should do two things: determine whether a person has ADHD and rule out or identify other problems — learning disabilities, autism, auditory processing disorders, or mood disorders.

Can a child with ADHD also have autism?

Roughly two-thirds of children with ADHD have at least one comorbid condition, and autism is among those that commonly occur with ADHD. Some studies suggest that nearly half of autistic children also have ADHD.

Are ADHD and autism mutually exclusive?

In the planned revision of the DSM-IV TR, dsm5 (www.dsm5.org), the diagnoses of autistic disorder and ADHD will not be mutually exclusive any longer.

What are the symptoms of ADHD and autism overlap?

Hallmarks of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD often overlap. Many autistic children also have symptoms of ADHD — difficulty settling down, social awkwardness, only focusing only on things of interest to them, and impulsivity.

How can you tell if an adult has ADHD or autism?

Adults with ADHD often exhibit inattentiveness, social anxieties, and challenges with controlling impulses. Social deficits as a whole are a defining characteristic of an adult autism diagnosis. When a person with ADHD speaks out of turn, it is probably due to lack of impulse control.

What is it like to have both ADHD and autism?

People who have traits that stretch across both autism and ADHD diagnoses often face more serious challenges than people with either diagnosis alone: They can have greater impairments in adaptive functioning, a term that refers to self-care and daily living skills, and more severe social and cognitive issues.

What percent of ADHD have autism?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14 percent of children with ADHD also have ASD. In one study from 2013, children with both conditions had more debilitating symptoms than children who didn’t exhibit ASD traits.