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ADHD and AUTISM Intro:
 

More than half of all individuals who have been diagnosed with (Autism spectrum disorder) ASD also have signs of ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).  Both ADHD and ASD are neurodevelopmental disorders (brain development has been affected in some way). That means both conditions/disorders affect the central nervous system, which is responsible for movement, language, memory, and social and focusing skills. Most importantly, that includes the brain’s executive functioning, which is responsible for decision making, impulse control, time management, focus, and organization skills. For many children, social skills are also affected. Both ADHD and ASD are more common in boys.

ASD (Autism spectrum disorder) and their Symptoms:

 

Autism is a developmental disorder with symptoms that appear within the first three years of life. Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The word “spectrum” indicates that each individual with autism experiences their own unique strengths, symptoms, and challenges. 

 

Individuals with autism may present a range of symptoms, such as: 

  • Reduced eye contact

  • Differences in body language

  • Lack of facial expressions

  • Not engaging in imaginative play

  • Repeating gestures or sounds

  • Closely focused interests

  • Indifference to temperature extremes

 

Here’s a general timeline of what this might look like:

 

From birth: trouble maintaining eye contact

By 9 months: not responding to their name

By 9 months: not displaying facial expressions reflective of their emotions (like surprise or anger)

By 12 months: not engaging in basic interactive games, like peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake

By 12 months: not using (or only using a few) hand gestures, like hand-waving

By 15 months: not sharing their interests with others (by showing someone a favorite toy, for example)

By 18 months: not pointing or looking where others point

By 24 months: not noticing when others appear sad or hurt

By 30 months: not engaging in “pretend play,” like caring for a baby doll or playing with figurines

By 60 months of age: not playing turn-taking games, like duck-duck goose

ADHD and their symptoms:

 

ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. The actions of a person with ADHD may seem to indicate that he or she isn’t “trying hard enough” to sit still or concentrate, but in many cases, this person doesn’t have stable neurophysiologic mechanisms necessary for self-regulating behavior.

 

Most common symptoms include:

  • having trouble focusing or concentrating on tasks

  • being forgetful about completing tasks

  • being easily distracted

  • having difficulty sitting still

  • interrupting people while they’re talking

  • talk excessively

  • find it hard to wait their turn

  • interrupt others when they’re speaking, playing, or carrying out a task

  • make frequent mistakes or miss details when studying or working

  • lose items frequently

  • be easily distracted by small things happening around them

 

There are three sub types of ADHD:

  • Predominantly inattentive. The majority of symptoms fall under inattention.

  • Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive. The majority of symptoms are hyperactive and impulsive.

  • Combined. This is a mix of inattentive symptoms and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.

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