Both fall into the wider category of neurodevelopmental disorders, within which “comorbidities” are considered relatively frequent. The prevalence of ADHD in people with ASD ranges from 50 to 70%, according to the literature (1).
But in fact, autism and ADHD often coincide. An estimated 30 to 80 percent of children with autism also meet the criteria for ADHD and, conversely, 20 to 50 percent of children with ADHD for autism.
Some research suggests that about 50% to 70% of autistic people also have ADHD. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the number is closer to 14% .
ADHD is more common than ASD. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), ADHD affects 9% of children aged 3–17, and 4% of adults. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1–2% of people across North America, Asia, and Europe have ASD.
✦ According to the CDC 14% of ADHD children are also Autistic. In some cases, an individual may not meet the full diagnostic criteria for both ADHD and Autism but may have subclinical levels of traits associated with each condition.
In the U.S., studies indicate that about 4.4% of adults have ADHD. About 5.4% of men in the U.S. have diagnosed ADHD, while 3.2% of women in the U.S. have the same. In the U.S., ADHD diagnoses are more prevalent in white people than in other ethnic groups.
More than half of children on the autism spectrum have symptoms of ADD, according to CHADD — difficulty settling down, social awkwardness, the ability to focus only on things that interest them, and impulsivity. ADHD itself, however, is not part of the autism spectrum.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can look a lot like each other. Children with either condition can have problems focusing. They can be impulsive or have a hard time communicating. They may have trouble with schoolwork and with relationships.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism can look a lot alike. Children with either one can be very active and impulsive, and can have trouble focusing and interacting with other people. In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
Main signs of autism
Common signs of autism in adults include: finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling. getting very anxious about social situations. finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own.
Can ADHD mask autism? Yes. For those who have both conditions, it's more common for the autism diagnosis to come much later compared to those that have only autism. This is likely due to ADHD symptom presentations masking the autistic behaviors.
It is estimated that worldwide about 1 in 100 children has autism (1). This estimate represents an average figure, and reported prevalence varies substantially across studies. Some well-controlled studies have, however, reported figures that are substantially higher.
Older epidemiological studies suggested that the IQ-related spectrum tends to be skewed to the left, i.e., a larger proportion of individuals with ASD have below average intelligence, while only few individuals with ASD may have an IQ above average.
Autism Prevalence
31% of children with ASD have an intellectual disability (intelligence quotient [IQ] <70), 25% are in the borderline range (IQ 71–85), and 44% have IQ scores in the average to above average range (i.e., IQ >85).
Nevertheless, one clinical study with slightly more precise information on IQ in ASD reported that 23% of the participants had an IQ < 85, while 45% had an average IQ, and 32% had an IQ above average (10).
Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is a syndrome related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but distinct from it. Typical symptoms include prominent dreaminess, mental fogginess, hypoactivity, sluggishness, staring frequently, inconsistent alertness and a slow working speed.
ASD and OCD can sometimes have similar symptoms. However, they are different conditions. Research from 2015 found that 17% of people with ASD also have OCD. This is higher than the percentage of people with OCD in the general population.
Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Especially for children, ADHD and eye contact using don't work together too well. Many people with ADHD struggle with social skills in general. Typically, they find it difficult to understand other's emotions, which makes empathy a challenge.
1. Eye contact: Avoidance of eye contact is ADHD behaviour – your child/young person may look as if they are ignoring you but some find making eye contact really difficult.
They are distinct conditions but have similar symptoms and a common genetic link. What helps distinguish ADHD from ASD is communication and social relatedness, but it is sometimes challenging to make these distinctions accurately.
Someone who is considered a savant may be especially skilled in art, math, music, memory recall, or another subject. Savant syndrome is commonly associated with autism but can occur alongside other conditions.
Attention deficit disorder is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in American children, according to the National Institute of Health. According to other ADD statistics, approximately 5% of all children between the ages of five and 11 and 11% of children between 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with the condition.
The mind of a person with ADHD is full of the minutiae of life (“Where are my keys?” “Where did I park the car?”), so there is little room left for new thoughts and memories. Something has to be discarded or forgotten to make room for new information. Often the information individuals with ADHD need is in their memory…