Where ADHD meets ASD in the High Functioning

ADHD almost often coexists with highly destressing Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical problems. Studies suggest that Psychological problems may exist in up to 70% of ADHD individuals.

Studies have particularly shown the coexistence of lifelong struggles with Anxiety Disorders, Addictive behaviours, Depression, Sleep Disorders, Eating Disorders, as well as multiple Impulse Dyscontrol behaviours, to name a few. These are often missed by untrained Medical Professionals.

ADHD

ASD

Anxiety

Depression

Trauma

Drug Addiction

Bullying

Addictive Behaviours

Mood swings

Impulsivity

Guilt

Social exclusion

Burnout

Anger

No motivation

Confusion

Relationship challenges

Sense of helplessness

The ADHD & ASD Overlap

The last 15-20 years of research has also shown the previously missed coexistence of ADHD with Asperger’s Spectrum Disorder and/or Traits in up to 30-80% of individuals, usually of high IQ (≥ 85).
The ADHD/ASD combined ‘missed’ individuals are seemingly smart, successful, established, and often Gifted. According to studies, up to 40% of such high IQ individuals (≥ 85) with ADD and ASD, never receive treatment for ADHD.
Research has shown that the combined type of an ADHD AND ASD individual demonstrates greater challenges than a single diagnosis for EITHER ADHD or ASD.
Evidence also shows that ASD AND ADHD individuals may be less responsive to standard treatments, as opposed to treatments for either Disorder.

ADHD cooccurring with ASD in HFI’s requires a highly complex assessment process, often requiring Neurocognitive Testing to complement the diagnosis.
ADHD and/or ASD are both Neurodevelopmental Disorders of the Brain, impacting on Nerve and Brain Growth, often seen but often missed during early childhood.
The ASD/ADHD patients have ‘hidden’ abilities, as well as disabilities. Often, these are hidden or ‘Masked’ from the world.
When High Functioning Individuals have both ADHD and ASD, they are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood by others, including friends, schools, family, and at work.

The core dynamics of the ASD/ADHD individuals will often be driven by:

accounts of feeling ‘Misunderstood’
difficulties in feeling ‘Normal’
difficulties with ‘Fitting in’
struggles with feeling ‘Connected’
struggles in feeling appreciated for ‘out of the box’ thinking
often being highly sensitive, emotional, intense, adventurous, reckless, and volatile etc.

On the other hand, they can simultaneously experience confusion, struggles with understanding perspective, expressing their true empathy, multiple anxieties and panic feelings from doubt, change, and unpredictability.
Such patients with both ADD/ASD Traits often do not respond to conventional treatments or psychological interventions if the cooccurring conditions are missed.

The most common overlapping symptoms of ASD Traits in ADHD/and vice versa, include:

Lack of attention vs high attention to detail
Difficulty concentrating vs Hyperfocusing vs fixated concentration
Over-arousal vs Hyperactivity
Under-arousal vs lack of motivation and drive, avoidance from struggles with understanding Social Cues vs loud and intense Social behaviour, often driven by Impulse Dyscontrol
Excitable or mildly euphoric Mood Swings vs Anger, Irritability, and significant Depressive Mood Swings
Struggles with being empathetic vs struggles with ‘too much’ empathy
High degree of Sensory Processing vs Exhaustion or Burnout from Sensory ‘Overload’
Tendency towards extreme and often inappropriate verbal capacity vs trauma from inability to communicate true inner-feelings, or to express empathy
Lifelong struggles with Social Anxiety from fears of rejection vs Social/Sexual disinhibition vs Social avoidance from confusion

Coexistence
of ADHD & ASD

Where ADHD meets ASD in the High Functioning

The ADHD & ASD Overlap

The core dynamics of the ASD/ADHD individuals will often be driven by:

The most common overlapping symptoms of ASD Traits in ADHD/and vice versa, include:

Lifelong struggles with Inconsistency in multiple areas of life, including:

Coexistence of ADHD & ASD

Where ADHD meets ASD in the High Functioning

The ADHD & ASD Overlap

The core dynamics of the ASD/ADHD individuals will often be driven by:

The most common overlapping symptoms of ASD Traits in ADHD/and vice versa, include:

Lifelong struggles with Inconsistency in multiple areas of life, including:

Coexistence
of ADHD & ASD