The Relationship Between Aspergers and ADHD

Aspergers and ADHD, any correlation?

When you look at all the similarities between the symptoms of ADHD and the symptoms for Asperger syndrome, you may think that the two diseases are obviously related.

The truth is that although the symptoms are the same, the diseases are not. There are different paths in terms of treatment of either ADHD or Aspergers.

Knowing what your child has will go a long way in terms of treatment and the correct diagnosis is thus essential.

The similarities between pervasive developmental Aspergers and ADHD or Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder include problems with learning, problems with attention and tantrums.

Other similarities include saying things that are inappropriate, issues with responding appropriately to situation, energetic activity that is irrational.

In Aspergers, which is one of the spectrum disorders, this is usually repetitive or self-stimulating behavior. Other similarities include problems when trying to follow directions and problems with attention.

Author Diane Kennedy who wrote the book “The ADHD Autism Connection” has found that the research on ADHD focused mainly on the disorder’s features.

While both Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder and Asperger syndrome are disorders that were developmental, these affect kids in the same areas of behavior, social interaction and communication.

She maintains that this is where the professionals who are not trained get confused. Clinicians and researchers tend to look for the differences rather than the similarities of the two disorders.

Children with Aspergers and ADHD

The truth is that the ADHD that is not treated looks identical to Asperger syndrome. Treating ADHD includes stimulants and Aspergers treatment ranges from antipsychotic medication to special education classes. These 2 paths are very different and a correct diagnosis is essential.

Diane Kennedy, author of “The ADHD Autism Connection” has noted in a study of 39 Aspergers kids aged between 6-11 years old that by the time they were diagnosed, ninety-two percent had a diagnoses of Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder.

In addition, a child can have an Asperger and Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder as co-morbid conditions which mean that both conditions can exist side by side. Children with both disorders tend to exhibit ADHD symptoms more like hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Later studies revealed that even if there are similarities between Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder and Aspergers, a closer look at what each disorder’s definition is shows that the Asperger attention problems are different from the symptoms of Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder.

Children can have both Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder and Aspergers and treatment will be required for both disorders. Early intervention will go a long way in terms of helping children find ways of effectively dealing with the issues that both conditions involve.

Aspergers Bipolar

Also known as manic depression, bipolar disorder involves shifts in states of emotion that range from despair to elation. Aspergers is a syndrome that affects the social interaction ability of a person.

Aspergers sufferers have a hard time reading social cues and do not know how to respond properly in a social situation. When a diagnosis involves a mixed Aspergers Bipolar state, there are four domains that specifically need to be put in mind in order to be diagnosed properly.

The 4 Domains include:

1. Intellectual Distortion which involves communication confusion, such as saying you are angry instead of afraid.
2. Cognitive Disintegration which could interfere with the right diagnoses if the person exhibits strange behavior responding to occurrences that do not seem to be significant. 
3. Psychosocial Masks which make certain odd behaviors seem like it is a product of a disorder when it is actually not. 
4. Baseline Exaggeration which includes differences that show unusual base behavior interferes with correct diagnoses.

The American Journal of Psychiatry states that you will need to consider the possibility of the existence of bipolar disorder in Aspergers sufferers when there are patterns of lows and highs that are apparent.

You also need to check for behavior fluctuation, change in the levels of activity and decreased or increased interest.

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