Guest guest Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 As a psychiatric nurse practitioner (and a mother of an Aspie), I'd say that kids are frequently incorrectly diagnosed with ADHD prior to getting an AS diagnosis. The major difference is that with ADHD, the person is easily distractible in general. It shows up in various situations. With AS, the person has selective inattention...that is, they can pay attention to their interest for remarkably long periods of time, and you can call them and they " honestly don't hear you " because they are so focused, yet they can't attend to other things because they " just aren't interested. " Medications traditionally associated with ADHD (like Concerta, Ritalin, etc.) may, in fact, work with AS, as medications do not treat diagnoses, rather they treat symptoms. In Autism and Aspergers Treatment , " mcclem4748 " <mcclem4748@...> wrote: > > > Dr Tsai made a presentation at the ASC-U.S. Annual Conference in Orlando > in June 2002 in which he discussed diagnostic confusion in Asperger's. > An article containing excerpts from his presentation is located at > www.med.umich.edu/psych/child/dd/sum2002nwsltr.htm > <http://www.med.umich.edu/psych/child/dd/sum2002nwsltr.htm> . It > states " Children with Asperger Disorder tend to go through the following > diagnostic pathway before a diagnosis of Asperger Disorder is made. > ADHD, ODD, Bi-Polar, and finally Asperger's. " It has a chart/timeline > that is quite helpful. > > > My son who is 22 now went through the same diagnoses pathway. So yes, > our experience is that an individual can be diagnosed with both ADHD and > then later with Asperger's. > > Clemy > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2006 Report Share Posted March 27, 2006 Hi my son has gone through all of the diagnoies and he is only 7 years old now. I have even had to fight to get him on ssi. but he is on it now. mcclem4748 <mcclem4748@...> wrote: Dr Tsai made a presentation at the ASC-U.S. Annual Conference in Orlando in June 2002 in which he discussed diagnostic confusion in Asperger's. An article containing excerpts from his presentation is located at www.med.umich.edu/psych/child/dd/sum2002nwsltr.htm. Itstates "Children with Asperger Disorder tend to go through the following diagnostic pathway before a diagnosis of Asperger Disorder is made. ADHD, ODD, Bi-Polar, and finally Asperger's. " It has a chart/timeline that is quite helpful. My son who is 22 now went through the same diagnoses pathway. So yes, our experience is that an individual can be diagnosed with both ADHD and then later with Asperger's. Clemy Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Messenger with Voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2006 Report Share Posted March 28, 2006 Hi All: My understnding is that individuals who have ADHD may have the ability to focus on subjects that interest them and/or when they are highly motivated. When compared to peers, particularly in school, they have difficulty with attention to humdrum stuff. Just like Aspies, individuals with ADHD may have problems with switching attention or with inhibiting attention from a particular subject. I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cut and dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easily distractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects of interest. I absolutely agree that medications can help regardless of the diagnostic label. Ritalin enables my son to attend mainstream classes - with an aide and not all day - whereas without it, he would have no opportunity to learn with and from his NT peers. Trish Mother to Noel aged 15 > > > > > > Dr Tsai made a presentation at the ASC-U.S. Annual Conference in > Orlando > > in June 2002 in which he discussed diagnostic confusion in > Asperger's. > > An article containing excerpts from his presentation is located at > > www.med.umich.edu/psych/child/dd/sum2002nwsltr.htm > > <http://www.med.umich.edu/psych/child/dd/sum2002nwsltr.htm> . It > > states " Children with Asperger Disorder tend to go through the > following > > diagnostic pathway before a diagnosis of Asperger Disorder is made. > > ADHD, ODD, Bi-Polar, and finally Asperger's. " It has a > chart/timeline > > that is quite helpful. > > > > > > My son who is 22 now went through the same diagnoses pathway. So > yes, > > our experience is that an individual can be diagnosed with both > ADHD and > > then later with Asperger's. > > > > Clemy > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 30, 2006 Report Share Posted March 30, 2006 > > I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cut > and dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easily > distractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects of > interest. > You are right. ADHD is dx'd from 3 factors: hyperactivity, distractibility and impulsivity and a person must be over the threshold in all 3 to get the dx. Persons with ASD can *appear* distractible because they are just not motivated to focus on things which do not interest them. They can also *appear* impulsive, because their lack of social skills prevents them from being able to work out consequences. That can make it hard for the right dx to be given. But the reasons and causes for the behaviours are different. in England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 31, 2006 Report Share Posted March 31, 2006 On the subject of whether you can have both AS and ADHD I remember attending one lecture where the presenter was showing brain scans that showed the two had distinctive patterns. All you would need would be to have scans showing both patterns in the same person to show they are not mutually exclusive. All my symptoms are not explained by one or the other, nor are my sons, so I am happy to believe you can have both - you just have to be lucky Riley -------Original Message------- From: Trish Date: 03/29/06 00:23:19 Hi All: My understnding is that individuals who have ADHD may have the ability to focus on subjects that interest them and/or when they are highly motivated. When compared to peers, particularly in school, they have difficulty with attention to humdrum stuff. Just like Aspies, individuals with ADHD may have problems with switching attention or with inhibiting attention from a particular subject. I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cut and dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easily distractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects of interest. I absolutely agree that medications can help regardless of the diagnostic label. Ritalin enables my son to attend mainstream classes - with an aide and not all day - whereas without it, he would have no opportunity to learn with and from his NT peers. Trish Mother to Noel aged 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 14, 2006 Report Share Posted April 14, 2006 I have a six year old that was diagnosed with ADHD , Asperger's, and sleep disorder so i believe you can have both also. Mel in IL Riley <klriley@...> wrote: On the subject of whether you can have both AS and ADHD I rememberattending one lecture where the presenter was showing brain scans thatshowed the two had distinctive patterns. All you would need would be tohave scans showing both patterns in the same person to show they are notmutually exclusive. All my symptoms are not explained by one or the other,nor are my sons, so I am happy to believe you can have both - you just haveto be lucky Riley-------Original Message-------From: TrishDate: 03/29/06 00:23:19Hi All:My understnding is that individuals who have ADHD may have theability to focus on subjects that interest them and/or when they arehighly motivated. When compared to peers, particularly in school,they have difficulty with attention to humdrum stuff. Just likeAspies, individuals with ADHD may have problems with switchingattention or with inhibiting attention from a particular subject.I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cutand dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easilydistractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects ofinterest.I absolutely agree that medications can help regardless of thediagnostic label. Ritalin enables my son to attend mainstreamclasses - with an aide and not all day - whereas without it, he wouldhave no opportunity to learn with and from his NT peers.TrishMother to Noel aged 15 Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 24, 2006 Report Share Posted April 24, 2006 YES!!! it is entirely possible for both, or more, to be present at the same time - it's called "co-morbid" Stienabker <fouracesrwild@...> wrote: I have a six year old that was diagnosed with ADHD , Asperger's, and sleep disorder so i believe you can have both also. Mel in IL Riley <klriley@...> wrote: On the subject of whether you can have both AS and ADHD I rememberattending one lecture where the presenter was showing brain scans thatshowed the two had distinctive patterns. All you would need would be tohave scans showing both patterns in the same person to show they are notmutually exclusive. All my symptoms are not explained by one or the other,nor are my sons, so I am happy to believe you can have both - you just haveto be lucky Riley-------Original Message-------From: TrishDate: 03/29/06 00:23:19Hi All:My understnding is that individuals who have ADHD may have theability to focus on subjects that interest them and/or when they arehighly motivated. When compared to peers, particularly in school,they have difficulty with attention to humdrum stuff. Just likeAspies, individuals with ADHD may have problems with switchingattention or with inhibiting attention from a particular subject.I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cutand dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easilydistractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects ofinterest.I absolutely agree that medications can help regardless of thediagnostic label. Ritalin enables my son to attend mainstreamclasses - with an aide and not all day - whereas without it, he wouldhave no opportunity to learn with and from his NT peers.TrishMother to Noel aged 15 Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2006 Report Share Posted May 1, 2006 I hope this note is going to - - when you mention brain scans that you saw at a lecture, do you remember which kind of scans you saw and where the scans were done? We live in Western NY (Rochester area) and we found research being conducted in Detroit MI where a doctor is going to conduct a PET and MRI and fMRI scan on our son but I just want to make sure I have as much background and information as possible. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Lynn > On the subject of whether you can have both AS and ADHD I remember > attending one lecture where the presenter was showing brain scans that > showed the two had distinctive patterns. All you would need would be to > have scans showing both patterns in the same person to show they are not > mutually exclusive. All my symptoms are not explained by one or the other, > nor are my sons, so I am happy to believe you can have both - you just have > to be lucky > > Riley > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Trish > Date: 03/29/06 00:23:19 > > > Hi All: > My understnding is that individuals who have ADHD may have the > ability to focus on subjects that interest them and/or when they are > highly motivated. When compared to peers, particularly in school, > they have difficulty with attention to humdrum stuff. Just like > Aspies, individuals with ADHD may have problems with switching > attention or with inhibiting attention from a particular subject. > > I don't mean to be picky here but I don't think the issue is as cut > and dried as saying that individuals with ADHD are easily > distractible in general whereas Aspies can focus on subjects of > interest. > > I absolutely agree that medications can help regardless of the > diagnostic label. Ritalin enables my son to attend mainstream > classes - with an aide and not all day - whereas without it, he would > have no opportunity to learn with and from his NT peers. > > Trish > Mother to Noel aged 15 > > > > > --------------------------------- > Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2006 Report Share Posted May 2, 2006 I live in Melbourne, Australia and the scans were done by a Dr here who does research into ADHD. I can't recall the type of scans, and can't find my notes from the seminar. I know they are here somewhere - because just about everything I have collected in the last 20 years is here *somewhere* - but can't find any trace of them. -- Re: ADHD and Asperger's I hope this note is going to - - when you mention brain scans that you saw at a lecture, do you remember which kind of scans you saw and where the scans were done? We live in Western NY (Rochester area) and we found research being conducted in Detroit MI where a doctor is going to conduct a PET and MRI and fMRI scan on our son but I just want to make sure I have as much background and information as possible. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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