ADHD vs. Autism: Differentiating Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Overlapping Traits

This podcast episode by Dr. Tracey Marks delves into the distinctions and overlaps between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), both classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. She explains that these conditions originate early in childhood, affecting brain growth and function, and notes a high comorbidity, particularly with ASD individuals often also having ADHD. The episode begins by detailing ASD as a spectrum disorder characterized by two main categories: problems with social communication and relating to others, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities, including hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory experiences. Dr. Marks uses a \"slot machine\" analogy to illustrate the unique presentation of ASD in each individual across various domains like language, social awareness, narrow interests, information processing, sensory processing, repetitive behaviors (stimming), and neuromotor control.\n\nThe core of the discussion focuses on the overlapping symptoms and their underlying differential reasons. Both ADHD and ASD individuals can exhibit executive dysfunction (e.g., oblivious to time, emotional dysregulation, trouble initiating tasks) and difficulties with social cues. However, the reasons differ: an ADHD person might miss cues due to inattention or interrupting, while an ASD person might struggle with understanding subtext, sensory overload from chit-chat, or literal interpretation. Similarly, self-stimulation (stimming) is common in both, but an ADHD individual might fidget to focus, whereas an ASD individual often stims in response to environmental discomfort or as an automatic coping mechanism, often with more intense, repetitive patterns like rocking.\n\nA key distinction highlighted is the relationship with routine and novelty: ADHD individuals typically seek novel experiences and get bored by routine, while ASD individuals are comforted by familiarity and routine. Dr. Marks also addresses the challenges in diagnosis, noting that both disorders can go undiagnosed until adulthood, especially if symptoms are subtle or manageable. Inattentive ADHD, for instance, might be missed in childhood if it doesn't present as a discipline problem, leading to underperformance. ASD can be overlooked if symptoms are not overtly problematic or if comorbid conditions like social anxiety, depression, OCD, or complex trauma are treated instead of screening for ASD.\n\nFinally, Dr. Marks provides practical advice for those suspecting they might have ASD traits. She cautions against self-diagnosis but recommends using online screening tools as a starting point. If scores are high and symptoms cause significant problems in work, school, relationships, or mental well-being, seeking professional evaluation from a therapist or psychiatrist experienced in ASD is crucial. She advises printing out screening results to facilitate a productive discussion with the clinician, emphasizing that even if a diagnosis isn't made, the clinician can explain their impression and offer alternative insights or support. The episode underscores the importance of understanding these complex neurodevelopmental conditions for better diagnosis and support." "concepts": [ "Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ADHD and autism are neurodevelopmental disorders.

It is common if you have one to have another one. In fact, there's a high prevalence of people with autism spectrum who also have ADHD.

ASD is a spectrum disorder because there are many features of it. The features can be grouped into two categories: problems with social communication and relating to others, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, or activities.

The person with ASD will have a functional change in all of the areas to some degree, and they may or may not have problems with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, which are problems that come along with ADHD.

People with ADHD and ASD both have executive dysfunction, like being oblivious to time, emotional dysregulation, and trouble getting things started.

The ADHD person may miss social cues because of trouble paying attention to the entire conversation, or hijacking the conversation topic by interrupting and going off on a tangent. On the other hand, the person with ASD may have social interaction problems because they don't understand the subtext messages from body language, or they may get overwhelmed with the sensory demands of chit-chatting.

A difference between ADHD and ASD is with ADHD, you seek out novel and new experiences and you can become bored with routine. But with ASD, you're comforted by familiarity and routine.

I don't recommend trying to diagnose yourself based on learning things on the internet. However, if you are curious if you may have some autism spectrum traits that someone missed, I'll have some online screening tools listed in the description and they're freely available.

If you score high on any of the tools and your symptoms or manifestations are causing problems for you in your work, school, relationships, or with your ability to feel mentally well, then you should see a professional, preferably a therapist or psychiatrist who has experience diagnosing and treating ASD.

Another way ASD can go unaddressed is if you have one of the common comorbid disorders that can accompany ASD, like social anxiety, depression, OCD, or even complex trauma.