Autism vs. ADHD

Brenda - posted on 06/09/2011

Just wanted to chime in, haven't read all of it, but I have a kid with ADD and Asperger's. They have a high degree of comorbidity meaning that most kids with Asperger's have ADD/ADHD.

Vicky - posted on 11/02/2010

Hi Sydney
This sounds extremely similar to a very close friend of mine who's son has Aspberger's. It took alot of time and effort on her part to have him finally diagnosed properly. My son has ADHD and while they have some similarities in their behaviour, I found her son took it to further levels at times. Asperger's is a mild form of Autism and I'm thinking it's difficult to have diagnosed because she did have that issue. I hope you are able to get a proper diagnoses quickly though because that will be key for you. I do know it finally took her paying for a psychologist or psychiatrist on her own. She was originally going through the school system and her pediatrician, I believe. However, it took years and in the meantime she dealt with meltdowns like you are describing on her own. I would look up all the possibilites it could be and take all that info with you the appt.

Sydney - posted on 11/01/2010

I want to thank all of you who have responded so far. Many good ideas and things for me to look into. I've been meaning to read "The Out of Sync Child" for years now. Since my son was diagnosed at 2 yo. Just never seem to remember to get it when I'm out. I'm going to make a point to get it now. I just really wanted to know what's going on before she goes into middle school next year. Right now she's only being pulled out for resource help in L.A. and Math. I'm not sure how that's going to work next year with 6 different classes...lots of questions (few answers so far). It's something you have to work on constantly and stay on top of...anyway, thanks everyone!!!

Lisa - posted on 11/01/2010

My son has CP and ADHD they can come together. She probably has some sensory issues as well and may need some help with her nighttime bed wetting.

Patti - posted on 10/27/2010

I have an 8 year old who has ADHD and she does not like any loud noises and freaks out when overwhelmed with school work and she also has a learning disability she was diagnosed in kindergarten she has ADHD bipolar and odd disorder I have my hands full buy now she is in a school that has a special class and she is doing better doesn't hurt to get her tested

Yolanda - posted on 10/27/2010

We have been told that our 9 year old adopted son has ADHD, bipolar disorder and reactive attachment disorder, now they are saying it could be PDD-NOS (pervasive development disorder) which fall into the autistic spectrum but is not full blown autism.. Ask if your daughter could have that.

Melissa - posted on 10/27/2010

my 12 year old son was diagnoses at 4 with adhd,and was just diagnosed with autism last june my dr said there are alot of simalarities between the two but there also are other conditions that are similar to both adhd and autism that is why it took them so long to offically diagnose him also they said as he grows other condions might be added to his diagnoses I suggest getting a sec even a third opinon just to be safe i had one dr say my son was just fine as he was litterally bounceing off the walls so... I got five different opinons and then when three came back similar i went with the dr that not only i had a comfortable feeling with but that my son felt comfortable around if you need to talk more my e-mail is melissatill30@aol.com
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers it is not an easy thing to go through but god bless you for taking in a special child

Sharon - posted on 10/27/2010

Hi,
Horrible migraines - please see neurologist. We spent years on testing which could of been avoided by going to a neurologist first they have the most knowledge. The psychologists and regular doctors really don't have enough training. ADHD is part of Tourettes. The repetitive behavior the OCD part of Tourettes maybe? Screaming, if she has a temper which is fast and furious, not more than about 15 minutes, it very well may be Tourettes. Well all I can say is from my own experience, there are many more disorders out there than just these two, these are just in the media more. Even if autism is more well known, MORE people have Tourette Syndrome, most aren't picked up. Sounds very clearly it could be Tourettes Syndrome to me. What types of repetitive habits are they? What you see as reptitive habits may be tics. Stims and tics are very different from one another. Migraines are very much a part of Tourette Syndrome and a red flag for Tourettes actually. I would take her to a neurologist for a full screening. Been there and it's not fun. Every doctor or professional knows very little about Tourettes so you really need a great neurologist. Do a lot of reading yourself and you learn more about her than the doctors know.

There is a great page on this site if once on it you search more than tics. Women and girls with Tourettes do not tic like the males who have it.

Here's a link to the National Tourette Assoc.
http://tsa-usa.org

Stephanie - posted on 10/27/2010

Three of my four children have Autism. Sounds suspiciously like Autism or PDD-NOS. A lot of similarities....

Melissa - posted on 10/26/2010

I have had 4 opinions. He has Aspergers also. I was just saying that RAD is extreemly common in adopted children and just look into it. RAD and aspergers have same behaviours with slight differences.

Liz - posted on 10/26/2010

My son is Diagnosed with severe ADHD and also ASPERGER'S Syndrome (Lower spectrum of Autism).
He suffers similiar symptoms that you have mentioned. Maybe you should get a second opinion.

Melissa - posted on 10/26/2010

I have a son that is almost 9, He has "componants" of ADHD but he has actually been diagnosed with RAD or Reactive Attachment Disorder. This disorder is high in children that have been adopted or physically abused. My son screams for no reason all of a sudden, he actually has to be medicated to be allowed to school so in turn then has to be medicated to sleep. He has some very repetative habits and also soils himself on occasion. We have only just stopped the bedwetting. RAD also sometimes gets confused with Aspergers. Just a thought

Bonita - posted on 10/26/2010

I agree with Ilze Thirion. My son Joshua, was diagnosed with borderline autism and Sensory Intergration Dysfunction at age 5. Before his diagnosis my child experienced constant ear infections. He was very sensitive to noises and hated to have tags in his shirts. After the diagnosis, my son went through occupational and speech therapy. Yes, he did have problems behavior wise in school, to the point he would walk out of the school unattended. I had to experience rude teachers and counselors who told me to put my child on medications. I did try Focalin, which failed. My child has not been on medications since. A year ago Josh went to a psychologist for several session. He told me that that helped him alot. He is currently in the seventh grade and plays on the football team. He still has some issues with being distracted, but overall he is a great person. He knows he is loved by his dad, me and his brothers. We do not treat Josh any different from his brothers. He just required extra attention. The book Out of Sync Child was a savior to me, it will help you tremendously. You will be surprised how a weighted vest or exercise ball could do for your child.

Ilze - posted on 10/26/2010

Hallo Sydney
My son is also 10 years old. He suffers from a few things - all related. He was diagnosed as being a high level functioning autistic person; he poses some characteristics on the Autism spectrum and a lot (but not all) of specifically Asperger syndrome. He has mild ADHD but most important he has Sensory Processing Disorder - previously refered to as Sensory Integration Disorder.
He also suffers from HORRIBLE MIGRAINES. There is no medical explanation BUT Sensory Processing Disorder explains it very clearly. In this case it works like this: He has trouble with sensory modulation; he can feel/sense that something is bothering him, but he can't place it or put it in words. I see him getting restless, drowsy/lazy, unable to concentrate and I start looking for explanations. When he touches his head I ask him: Do you have a head ache? THEN and only then does he realize that he has a quit severe headache. If I don't catch it early on (or he is some place where someone else doesn't pick up on it) BAM - migraine!
Sensory Processing Disorder is very often overlooked by professionals OR wrongly diagnosed as ADHD. A child with ADHD might very often have Sensory Processing Disorder and very often children with SPD develop AHDH symptoms, but that is not the root of the problem. ADHD is treated with medication that helps (as I think you already know) BUT SPD is treated with therapy. ADHD medication does not help for SPD.

I would recommend you read 2 books - both world acclaimed in the field: "The Out of Sync Child", by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A. (Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder) and "Too loud, too fast, too bright, too tight" by ? Phd (What to do if your are Sensory Defensive in an overstimulating world). Both books are easy readers and uses terms that moms can understand - you don't need to be a professional to see the tell tale signs of SPD.

It could be ADHD BUT it is more likely SPD.

I will reply with the author of the second book as soon as I have it in hand (lent it to my sons teacher...)
Yours truly
Ilze Thirion (South Africa)

Jennifer - posted on 10/26/2010

My son is 8 yrs old and is on the Autistic Spectrum. He was diagnosed as PDD-NOS; Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. He does not meet all of one of the criteria specified on the autistic spectrum. He has maybe one thing from one type of autism, two from another, but doesn't fit just one type of autism. He has also been diagnosed as ADD; he does not have the hyperactivity. When he was about 12-18 mo old, we knew there was something wrong. He was not speaking as much as he should. He had very strong sensory issues as well. He was not social, was very impulsive, and when very little, did a little bit of the hand/arm thing. Looked like he was grabbing for things in the air that weren't there. When he was upset, it could take over an hour to calm him down from a tantrum. As he has grown up, most of the things I listed have either lessened, or he has found ways to deal with them, and some are actually gone.
When he was about ready to enter first grade, he was put on Vyvanse 20mg (lowest dosage) to help with the ADD. It helps more than just the ADD. It really helps him socially as well. I forgot to include, he still occasionally wets his bed. I was told that this too was normal for his diagnoses.
You know your child best, but as a parent who has gone thru a lot of the same things, I would look at maybe getting a second opinion...it really couldn't hurt, but could make a world of a difference for your family. Best of luck to you and your daughter!

Kelly - posted on 10/26/2010

I find it hard to believe that it's not autism or Aspergers-I think I'd get a second opinion

Sue - posted on 10/26/2010

ADHD often has other symptoms with it--OCD behaviors as well as anxiety. My son was diagnosed this way, but some days it looks like autism. When was autism ruled out? If it was a long time ago, you might need to see someone else, but it could be ADHD. The bedwetting thing also goes on here. It is common in both. It should stop by puberty. We aren't adding another medicine to the mix to treat that. We also take him to the chiropractor and have tried acupuncture--with some success. Look for food allergies too. We also found out our son has sensitivities to dairy. Eliminating it from his diet has made it so much better.

Cheryl - posted on 10/26/2010

having a 16 year old with high functioning autism, i would say she is sounding more autistic, but i am not a doctor of any sort.

Lisa - posted on 10/25/2010

my six year old son did the gesture thing and as you put it "short circuted" once in awhile and just blew up. he is also a very mild mannered child. he too was tested through the autism spectrum only to be found that he has ADHD with a few other behavioral issues. we have tried different medications and finally after a couple of years and several medications later have it under control. it takes patience, a whole lot of patience, but soon I'm sure you'll find an answer and get the help she needs. it sounds like there are many things going on at the same time and there may not be just one answer!

Kaitlyn - posted on 10/25/2010

This could be autism - but have they checked her for epileptic seizures? My daughter used to scream, then bite herself really hard. This was attributed to CP for quite some time, but finally a doctor decided to test for seizures and discovered this is what she did when seizing. Just a thought...

Grace - posted on 10/23/2010

yes my son and daughter.. my son has autism, and my daughter is being tested for autism now...

Stephanie - posted on 10/22/2010

To be honest, it sounds ALOT like my 10 yo autistic son. Are they sure it's not autism? Could very well be ADHD also. I see some of that with my 12 yo ADHD son.

Christine - posted on 10/19/2010

It is very possible she may have ADHD my daughter had the lack of attention and her temperment or attitude was bad fighting yelling ,she has been on adderol for a month now and I do see a big difference in her behavior and her ability to focus. The only thing I have noticed is it usually wears off around 7 or 8 at night then her symptoms kind of rear their ugly heads again.
Many of the parents i have spoke to regarding ADHD say bedwetting is a common issue with kids. I would check with your Doctor if he doesn't find out a cause I would ask for a referral to a specialist who may be able to help you,
Best of Luck

Sydney - posted on 10/19/2010

I forgot to add that she also is still wetting the bed at night. Well, not just night. When she sleeps. They said she has no sensation when she's sleeping. She also has a very high tolerance to pain. I don't know if that has anything to do with any of it...