Autism vs ADHD | Which one is it?

Autism and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental disorders that affect children. Both conditions can cause behavioural problems, but they have different symptoms, causes and treatments. It’s important to know the differences between these two disorders so that you can get the right treatment for your child.

	ADHD	Autism
Definition	A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity	A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors
Affects	Boys (13%) are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls (6%)	ASD is nearly 4 times more common among boys than among girls
Onset	Usually diagnosed in childhood, but can persist into adulthood	Usually diagnosed in early childhood
Symptoms	Inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, forgetfulness, disorganization, fidgeting, interrupting others	Difficulty with social interaction, difficulty with communication, repetitive behaviours, sensory issues, intense interests
Treatment	Medication (stimulants, non-stimulants), behavioral therapy, lifestyle changes	Behavioral therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medication (antipsychotics, antidepressants)
Prognosis	Can improve with treatment, but may persist into adulthood	Can improve with early intervention and therapy, but may persist into adulthood

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD affects approximately 9.4% of children aged 2-17 years in the United States, while autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 54 children in the United States. These statistics were last updated in 2020.

Autism vs adhd similarities

Both autism and ADHD are lifelong disorders. They both have symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that can be treated with medication and therapy.

Both diagnoses require you to show signs before age three, but if you’re diagnosed with either of these conditions as an adult it’s not uncommon for your symptoms to have started earlier in life.

For example, if you were diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and then stopped taking your medication, you would still show signs of the disorder. However, if you were never diagnosed with either condition until adulthood it’s likely that your symptoms started earlier in life.

Both autism and ADHD are lifelong disorders. They both have symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that can be treated with medication and therapy. Both diagnoses require you to show signs before age three, but if you’re diagnosed with either of these conditions as an adult it’s not uncommon for your symptoms to have started earlier in life.

This infographic summarizes the similarities.

Diagnosis of autism and ADHD

Autism and ADHD are both neurodevelopmental disorders, which means they have to do with the brain developing improperly. They are often diagnosed at a young age, but can also be diagnosed later in life.

There are many symptoms of autism and ADHD that overlap, such as difficulty concentrating or paying attention, hyperactivity (or overactivity) and impulsive behaviour. The main difference between these two conditions is how each person presents themselves socially. People with autism tend not to initiate social interactions while those with ADHD may find it hard for others’ expectations of them to meet their own expectations of themselves.

The critical difference in symptoms is the effect they have on a person’s ability to function. For example, someone with ADHD may be hyperactive, impulsive and easily distracted but still able to maintain friendships and relationships with others. Someone with autism may seem aloof or distant from others despite wanting friends and social interaction.

This is because someone with ADHD may be able to engage in social interactions, but may find it hard to maintain them. They may have trouble remembering what was just said or done during a conversation, which can make them seem less interested in others’ lives than they actually are.

Symptoms of autism and ADHD

ADHD and autism are both neurodevelopmental disorders, but they affect the brain in different ways. Symptoms of autism include:

Difficulty reading social cues or understanding other people’s emotions

Poor eye contact and lack of facial expressions
Repetitive motions (such as hand flapping) or rigid routines that interfere with daily life

Difficulty making friends or interacting with others

Delayed speech and language skills. Asperger syndrome is associated with: Difficulties with social interactions, but not necessarily the inability to form friendships Intense focus on a specific topic or subject (often an unusual one) Inappropriate jokes, humor or conversation topics Problems with reading comprehension

Difficulty with changes in routine or unusual environments Difficulty starting and maintaining conversations.

Treatment and Therapy for Autism vs ADHD

Therapies and treatment options for both autism and ADHD include:

ABA (applied behavioural analysis)
Behavioural interventions
Cognitive-behavioural therapy

These therapies are typically used to treat children with autism, but they can also be helpful in adults with the disorder.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome have difficulty with social interactions, but not necessarily the inability to form friendships. They often show intense focus on a specific topic or subject (often an unusual one). They also have problems with reading comprehension, difficulty starting and maintaining conversations and inappropriate jokes, humour or conversation topics.

People with Asperger syndrome tend to have average or above-average intelligence, but they may have trouble understanding schoolwork. They often have trouble with executive functioning skills such as planning, organization and prioritizing tasks.

They may also have problems with motor skills and sensory processing.

These two disorders are different in some ways, but they also have many similarities.

If you think your child might have autism, it’s important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible. In fact, the earlier the diagnosis is made and treatment begins, the better off your child will be.

It’s also important to understand that everyone with ADHD or ASD will be affected differently by these disorders. For example, some people with ADHD can control their symptoms by taking medication; others may need more help from a therapist or coach who specializes in treating ADHD; still, others may need medication and therapy at the same time (and sometimes even more).

The goal is to help people with autism learn how to function in social settings and other environments.

Conclusion

The key thing to remember is that these two disorders are different in some ways, but they also have many similarities. They both affect the way a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with others. If you’re concerned about your child’s development or behavior, talk with your pediatrician about getting an autism or adhd diagnosis for them as soon as possible.