Autism and ADHD: Similarities and Differences and Implications for Underlying Biology and Conceptualization of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

In recent years, there has been a move to diagnose both Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the same individuals. But is it an accurate approach? Does it reflect biology? As it turns out, on the basis of simple symptom categorization, there is a fair amount of overlap between these two conditions. There is a 5-10% incidence of ADHD overall in children, and a 2-5% incidence of ASD. Based on DSM-5, around 50% diagnosable with ASD could also be diagnosed with ADHD, and around 15% of children diagnosable with ADHD could also be diagnosed with ASD. Both disorders make kids appear less engaged. Inattentive behavior in ADHD may cause affected children to miss social cues, which can resemble mild ASD. ADHD kids have a higher rate of peer rejection, which can lead to them being more withdrawn, which may also resemble ASD. Children with both disorders may develop problems with empathy, as well as facial recognition.

Author(s): Sarah Resnik Cheyette

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