ADHD vs AS

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http://www.addandadhd.co.uk/adhd-aspergers-syndrome.html

These two conditions are very similar and there appears to be a fair bit of misdiagnosis.

So, what has been your experience? Which of these do you identify within yourself?

I met both for ADHD and AS. But I have ADD.

The only things I didn't fit are:

Frequently makes mistakes in schoolwork by not paying attention to detail
Be unable to talk or play quietly
Be unlikely to engage in imaginative play, or where this is shown, play may be restricted to only one or two rigid patterns

I did pretend play growing up.
Of course I be loud when I play but all kids are loud when they play.
I was trying so hard to concentrate in school I don't think there was no way I made those mistakes with my school work.


I am not sure about these ones:

Focus so hard on a single activity of interest that they completely lose awareness of everything else around them
Be unwilling to communicate verbally

I am not sure what that means. When I am really really upset having a meltdown, I can't really talk and listen.

As a child I did not know how to behave and I didn't know when I was being naughty. I also had impulsive and I was aware of my behavior but I was unable to control it. I always did goofy things because I was so hyper. I also enjoyed the attention.
I am not sure if I tune the whole world out with my interests.

I met the majority of the ADHD/AS list that share the same behavior.

I have been diagnosed with both, and I agree with my diagnosis. I don't fit all the stereotypes of either of the above descriptions -- I played imaginatively as a child, I wasn't ill-behaved, my handwriting was neat -- but there are many other reasons to affirm that I'm an aspie with ADHD, including the other forms of play I had as a child (and adult!).

One paradox of being both is that my documentation is painfully neat, whereas my surroundings tend towards entropy.

Most girls/women who have an attention deficit disorder have 'pure' ADD rather than ADHD. I am fortunate to have the latter. I think my jumpiness has gone down since I've been on methylphenidate (Concerta/Ritalin), but I do like having all that energy. It makes me dance. And the autism gives me the rhythm.

My daughter was diagnosed with both, ADHD first. I agree with the diagnosis...and I felt the therapist and psychiatrist worked together well to point us toward additional testing when they saw it was not just adhd. When I read the testing questions for both, I saw so many things that fit. She takes medication for adhd which does help her with those symptoms. She's very distractable, but when she's working on something of interest, she can do it for a long long time and become upset when she's interrupted. Her eye contact isn't good...she can be loud, but when someone is asking her questions, her voice takes on a monotone...and her answers become very short, not like she has an attitude. But if she has something to say about something, she'll go on and on.

Cries, gets angry easily....we can't go to malls or theme parks or crowded restaurants...or new restaurants very often. Our last experience at a theme park was this fall, she's twelve and invited a friend. She refused to ride most of the rides....we road a few and then she just kept falling apart after that. Finally we just stayed in the arcade until it was time to leave. That was the first and last outside of school experience with a school friend--meaning she hasn't wanted this experience again. At the end she said she had a wonderful time...her friend was quiet, and for me it was nightmarish (she got angry at one point and was pretty awful).

She only likes to be touched on her own terms...meaning, I can't really hug her and haven't really ever been able to. She will hug if she's ready...also I couldn't ever do any tickling...it was really upsetting to her.

I am diagnosed with ADD and take non-stimulant medication which really helps, but she's like a neon sign for ADHD. But it's genetic....she's SO my brother when we were kids.

I've been reading a lot of information recently about frontal lobe problems.

Some of the ADHD differences can present in a person with Asperger's syndrome, too.
I am not sure if I have been or am aware of bad behaviour, because I never regret what I do, when I do what I want to do.
I sure have beat myself up (metaphorically) about not being right, many times.
I used to hit my head against walls and tables many times and repeated that I was stupid.
I never liked it when someone tried to console me.
All of these symptoms have either presented themselves or present themselves now.
Like bad handwriting, I do not do that now.
Be unwilling to communicate verbally is what presents now.
What has always remained, though, is my lack of understanding for social things, anything that does not appear absolutely functional is deemed useless to me and my mother says I judge harshly to people who use those social niceties.
And I do.
I also think that the idea of a jury is stupid, although I have seen that they cannot leave until everyone is in agreement which makes me happy.
I am quite sad that I am diagnosed with PDD-NOS because it is such a vague diagnosis and it leaves me with nothing.
I am not very rigid because I cannot keep myself to schedules.
It is hard for me to push myself to quit doing something fun and go on to the next item.
I need motivation from the outside, it does not happen from within me.
In that respect, I am very different from people with Asperger's syndrome.
I can deal with change easily.
A teacher has theorized that this was because I was apathetic towards the environment, and to a degree, I agree.
It often happens that I suddenly feel ecstasy or depression at random from a piece of music or a piece of text on the internet.

I'm going to be evaluated for ADHD soon. I haven't thought of the AS / ADHD similarities than anything else since. I've gone into the forums and I'm trying to find the differences. It's very hard though, because inattentive ADHD is even closer to AS because of the lack of hyperactivity.

As a child I did not seek friendship. I never tried to make friends, even though I knew I was friendless. Only when I was 22 did I try and that's only because of what people think about people that are too quiet. It's not normal for them and so when my ex -bf's friends were always having these long conversations I tried. I ended up with severe social anxiety and went for help before I got agoraphobia.

I did not speak that much, even around my family. I probably spoke more around my family than say school. Kids in my class thought I was deaf.

In school I didn't do my work properly. I didn't understand it. I didn't ask for help. I had to read the questions in tests over and over again to get them to sink in. I had difficulties reading and writing.
At recess or lunch I'd walk around the whole school over and over again. So I really didn't try at all to make friends.

I've been watching myself in how I am at social gatherings. I have no interest in talking to people. I've never wanted to talk to people but didn't know how to, expect maybe if I thought someone was good looking. I'm good at one on one conversation though.

I have special interests but after say an hour on them I get sick of them. Time to do something else. I have to do 5 things in a day because I just get so easily bored of them. Reading for half an hour could put me into a coma. OK, maybe not that extreme but it makes me very tired.
My concentration issues are strange. I can concentrate on some things but not others. It depends on what's in my mind or what mood I'm in. My job is hard because I can't concentrate when being given instructions, so I don't know if what I'm doing is right. And just like it was in school I don't ask for help. I need to swallow my pride and ask next time. After 2 hours of photo editing I lose concentration, after another two hours I've lost all concentration and I'm anxious to get home.

I don't really know if ADHD has anything to do with motor clumsiness. I dress in what makes me feel comfortable, which might make me look like a 12 year old boy but I don't care. And I sort of talk like I'm reading out of a manuel. I think those three things are more related to AS. My long term memory isn't as great as some here though. I can only remember snippets of things relating to my special interests. I couldn't tell you everything about them.
And I'm not sure if ADHD kids regress at 18 months old like I did? My mum said I was like a happy bouncy smiley baby that we were watching in the doctor's waiting room. And I showed obvious AS signs as a toddler. And my aversion for change and need for routines sort of point to AS.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I do experience some hyperactivity. When I'm bored I can become hype but if I'm sitting down and this hyperactivity starts in my brain I feel very uncomfortable.
Oh, and also the whole unable to express my emotions and the fact that I was at a wedding and didn't feel anything. It felt like my two friends that just got married were still dating and I didn't want to sign the guest book. I just think I don't feel what other people feel.

So, I'm kind of thinking both. I really hope some sort of medication can help me because losing concentration as much as I do is really irritating and could influence my job. It sure does influence my story writing ability.

Interesting, that thing about theme parks. I have always disliked most of the rides. I preferred rides designed for children younger than myself. At the age of 12 I went on the merry-go-round with four-year-olds. That was true all through my teens. When I was nearly 17, we went to Disneyland and I prayed all through Space Mountain rollercoaster that if God rescued me from this I would never do something as stupid as that ever again. Afterwards I went on the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, which is a low-intensity rollercoaster for younger kids (other than parents of little ones, I was the oldest person on the ride), and I really loved it.

I also hated the loud sounds in the haunted house -- but I guess that's the idea of a haunted house!

I do NOT get an adrenalin rush from being scared! I get an adrenalin rush from dancing. Although maybe that's noradrenaline and dopamine. I have ADHD, after all.

The page says that there is a structural brain difference betwen those who actually have ADHD and those with autism.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18093031

The types of things are very difficult for me to udnerstand and for this text I had to have someone else read it to me. I was told that this text states how both hildren with autism and ADHD bascilly both have an inability to pay attention which is visible from a this brain scan, but the brain of the autistic child also shows more damage in the part of their brain that controls theory of mind.

I have freinds who were diagnoed as having ADD. They are also socially awkward but not as bad as I am. However we do get along better together than I do with NT's. My ADD freinds seem to get my jokes and understand my way of thinking, even though at times they are just as confused by my social skills as the average NT is. Thats the way that I describe the difference. I am certain that I have an attention problem as well as social skill problems. I havent taken any tests so im not sure whether its even aspoergers or just severe ADD but the symptoms that I share with those with ADD is just as strong as the similarities I have with ASpies. I have troublem finishing projects and tasks/ keeping promises etc.

I was misdiagnosed with ADHD, because noone knew AS and I was too inteligent to Autism.

Me as a kid bolded:

Aspergers Similarities to Attention Deficit Disorder
Children with Aspergers and ADHD are both likely to:-
-Have difficulties mixing with other children
-Show no real fear of danger
-Be prone to tantrums and become easily distressed
-Be either hyperactive or extremely slow or lethargic
-Avoid eye contact
-Be very intelligent and have a high IQ
-Be hard to diagnose when very young
-Show problems with communication and social interaction
-Have deficiencies in coordination and fine motor skills
-Act impulsively
-Have very poor handwriting
-Show symptoms of anxiety
-Appear not to listen, even when spoken to directly



Quote:
ADHD Differences
Children with attention hyperactivity deficit disorders are more likely to:-
-Be unable to talk or play quietly
-Be disruptive with talk or activities, frequently interrupting others
-Have difficulty waiting their turn
-Frequently makes mistakes in schoolwork by not paying attention to detail
-Be aware of their bad behaviour, but appear unable to control it



Quote:
Asperger's Differences
A child with Asperger's may:-
-Find it hard to respond emotionally to a situation
-Focus so hard on a single activity of interest that they completely lose awareness of everything else around them
-Finds it difficult to understand the difference between good or bad behaviour
-Be prone to frequent repetitive behaviour
-Be unwilling to communicate verbally
-Be unlikely to engage in imaginative play, or where this is shown, play may be restricted to only one or two rigid patterns

I guess I lean more toward ADHD side.

I'm bored so I'm doing this too:

Aspergers Similarities to Attention Deficit Disorder
Children with Aspergers and ADHD are both likely to:-
-Have difficulties mixing with other children
-Show no real fear of danger
-Be prone to tantrums and become easily distressed
-Be either hyperactive or extremely slow or lethargic
-Avoid eye contact
-Be very intelligent and have a high IQ
-Be hard to diagnose when very young
-Show problems with communication and social interaction
-Have deficiencies in coordination and fine motor skills
-Act impulsively
-Have very poor handwriting
-Show symptoms of anxiety
-Appear not to listen, even when spoken to directly



Quote:
ADHD Differences
Children with attention hyperactivity deficit disorders are more likely to:-
-Be unable to talk or play quietly
-Be disruptive with talk or activities, frequently interrupting others
-Have difficulty waiting their turn
-Frequently makes mistakes in schoolwork by not paying attention to detail
-Be aware of their bad behaviour, but appear unable to control it



Quote:
Asperger's Differences
A child with Asperger's may:-
-Find it hard to respond emotionally to a situation
-Focus so hard on a single activity of interest that they completely lose awareness of everything else around them
-Finds it difficult to understand the difference between good or bad behaviour
-Be prone to frequent repetitive behaviour
-Be unwilling to communicate verbally
-Be unlikely to engage in imaginative play, or where this is shown, play may be restricted to only one or two rigid patterns

As a child I was very quiet and so didn't interrupt people as much as I do now, but I'm aware of my rude behaviour so talk very little again, but not to the extent I did as a child. I'm also a bit more hyper.

If an aspie is innatentive to a task, wouldnt that just mean that the task doesnt involve his/her inperticular interest? Hence there wouldnt be a need to diagnose someone as both ADHD and Aspergers. There seems to be a hint of ADD that already comes with an Aspy diagnosis.

But what about if you LOVE the task but can't concentrate on it?

Example: reading is something I like to do but can't read any longer than 30 minutes if even that. Sometimes I can't concentrate on posts here or a TV show. I lose concentration on my job too which I enjoy. I cannot spend any longer than 1 hour on my special interests. Sometimes I can, but 2 hours is pushing it. I end up mentally exhausted.

Aspergers Similarities to Attention Deficit Disorder
Children with Aspergers and ADHD are both likely to:-
-Have difficulties mixing with other children
-Show no real fear of danger
-Be prone to tantrums and become easily distressed
-Be either hyperactive or extremely slow or lethargic
-Avoid eye contact
-Be very intelligent and have a high IQ
-Be hard to diagnose when very young
-Show problems with communication and social interaction
-Have deficiencies in coordination and fine motor skills
-Act impulsively
-Have very poor handwriting
-Show symptoms of anxiety
-Appear not to listen, even when spoken to directly



Quote:
ADHD Differences
Children with attention hyperactivity deficit disorders are more likely to:-
-Be unable to talk or play quietly
-Be disruptive with talk or activities, frequently interrupting others
-Have difficulty waiting their turn
-Frequently makes mistakes in schoolwork by not paying attention to detail
-Be aware of their bad behaviour, but appear unable to control it



Quote:
Asperger's Differences
A child with Asperger's may:-
-Find it hard to respond emotionally to a situation
-Focus so hard on a single activity of interest that they completely lose awareness of everything else around them
-Finds it difficult to understand the difference between good or bad behaviour
-Be prone to frequent repetitive behaviour
-Be unwilling to communicate verbally
-Be unlikely to engage in imaginative play, or where this is shown, play may be restricted to only one or two rigid patterns

I don't know where I would fall. I'm a "people pleaser" and knew what rules I was supposed to follow and did so far too strictly. As far as responding to situations, I actually respond to them in an emotionally inappropriate manner (crying, swearing). I mixed okay with people, but again, I'm a people pleaser and/or I just hang out in the periphery. Also, if I'm focusing on something intensely and you are talking to me, I will respond with "uh huh" and not even know it. You have to physically touch me to get my attention. I've upset quite a few people doing this.

I'm like this... I have so much trouble and get soooo frustrated, because some things I'm doing ARE high in my interests. I can talk about them forever, but when it comes to actually doing something hands on that involves it, it doesn't go well. I'm very focused when I first start, but within minutes I'm very frustrated and give up because I can't stay focused to actually enjoy it.... but I can't just forget about it either. I'll be thinking about it all day long, and will attempt it several times usually.

I'm going to do this too.

Asperger's Similarities to Attention Deficit Disorder
Children with Asperger's and ADHD are both likely to:-
-Have difficulties mixing with other children*
-Show no real fear of danger
-Be prone to tantrums and become easily distressed*
-Be either hyperactive or extremely slow or lethargic*
-Avoid eye contact
-Be very intelligent and have a high IQ*
-Be hard to diagnose when very young*
-Show problems with communication and social interaction
-Have deficiencies in coordination and fine motor skills
-Act impulsively*
-Have very poor handwriting
-Show symptoms of anxiety*
-Appear to not listen, even when spoken to directly*

ADHD Differences
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders are more likely to:-
-Be unable to talk or play quietly
-Be disruptive with talk or activities, frequently interrupting others*
-Have difficulty waiting their turn
-Frequently makes mistakes in schoolwork by not paying attention to detail*
-Be aware of their bad behaviour, but appear unable to control it*

Asperger's Differences
A child with Asperger's may:-
-Find it hard to respond emotionally to a situation
-Focus so hard on a single activity of interest that they completely lose awareness of everything else around them
-Finds it difficult to understand the difference between good and bad behaviour
-Be prone to frequent repetitive behaviour*
-Be unwilling to communicate verbally*
-Be unlikely to engage in imaginative play, or where this is shown, play may be restricted to only one or two rigid patterns

To be honest, I see myself as a mixed bag, like as if traits of different things were thrown into a randomisation machine and I am the end result. I have a diagnosis of Asperger's and I can identify ADD/ADHD tendencies within myself. My parents wanted me to be assessed for ADHD because my Dad saw a presentation at work about ADHD in teenagers (he also knows a woman whose daughter has ADHD and son has AS), and he seemed to think I had it.

It's all too confusing!