Is Add On The Autism Spectrum

Autism Symptoms In Adults At Home

Corvallis Chiropractor | Seminar on ADD/ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Other peoples feelings baffle you. You have a collection of figurines on your desk that must be in the same order at all times. These, and other common manifestations of ASD, may be apparent in adults at home:

Your family members lovingly refer to you as the eccentric professor of the family, even though you dont work in academia.
Youve always wanted a best friend, but never found one.
You often invent your own words and expressions to describe things.
Even when youre in a quiet place, like the library, you find yourself making involuntary noises like clearing your throat over and over.
You follow the same schedule every day of the week, and dont like unexpected events.
Expressions like, Curiosity killed the cat or Dont count your chickens before they hatch are confusing to you.
You are always bumping into things and tripping over your own feet.
In your leisure time, you prefer to play individual games and sports, like golf, where everyone works for themselves instead of working toward a common goal on a team.

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Do Symptoms Of Autism Change Over Time

For many children, symptoms improve with age and behavioral treatment. During adolescence, some children with ASD may become depressed or experience behavioral problems, and their treatment may need some modification as they transition to adulthood. People with ASD usually continue to need services and supports as they get older, but depending on severity of the disorder, people with ASD may be able to work successfully and live independently or within a supportive environment.

Signs And Symptoms Of Asd

People with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The list below gives some examples of the types of behaviors that are seen in people diagnosed with ASD. Not all people with ASD will show all behaviors, but most will show several.

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Where Can I Get More Information

For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute’s Brain Resources and Information Network at:

Office of Communications and Public LiaisonNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeNational Institutes of HealthBethesda, MD 20892

NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

How Is Autism Treated

There is no cure for ASD. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can substantially improve those symptoms. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of the individual. Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.

Educational/behavioral interventions: Early behavioral/educational interventions have been very successful in many children with ASD. In these interventions therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills, such as applied behavioral analysis, which encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative ones. In addition, family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with ASD often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with a child with ASD.

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Getting The Right Environment

Environment is important to quality of life for autistic people. There are ways you can adapt and improve your environment to make it as comfortable and supportive as possible for you or your child.

The social model of disability is a way of looking at the world that treats the difficulties people with disabilities have as being caused by barriers in society, rather than just the disabilities themselves. These barriers can be physical for example, buildings not having accessible toilets. Barriers can also be caused by peoples attitudes for example, many people will assume someone is lying because they dont make eye contact while talking.

The social model of disability can be a helpful way of considering the difficulties someone faces, and how to adapt their environment so it works for them.

Common changes to an environment that can help autistic people include:

sensory changes for example, being given a quiet space to work, being able to use sensory toys like fidget spinners, or being allowed to make noises while working
communication changes for example, using email or apps to communicate, using very clear language, allowing additional time to ask questions, or using visual communication such as photos or pictures as well as written words
routine keeping to a regular routine and giving warning of any changes as far in advance as possible

infections

Level : Requires Very Substantial Support

Level 3 is the most severe form of autism. Children in this category will have many of the same behaviors as those with levels 1 and 2, but to a more extreme degree.

Problems expressing themselves both verbally and nonverbally can make it very hard to function, interact socially, and deal with a change in focus or location. Engaging in repetitive behaviors is another symptom of level 3 ASD.

A person with ASD level 3 will have a very limited ability to speak clearly and will rarely start interactions with other people. When they do, they will do so awkwardly. Someone with level 3 will also respond only to very direct social approaches from other people.

Restrictive / Repetitive Behaviors May Include:

Repeating certain behaviors or having unusual behaviors. For example, repeating words or phrases, a behavior called echolalia
Having a lasting intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
Having overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
Getting upset by slight changes in a routine
Being more or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, noise, clothing, or temperature

People with ASD may also experience sleep problems and irritability. Although people with ASD experience many challenges, they may also have many strengths, including:

Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time
Being strong visual and auditory learners
Excelling in math, science, music, or art

What Are The Major Differences

How to Help Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD With Visual Supports

There are several distinct factors that are pretty clear lines between autism and ADHD, although there are some people that can have both ADHD and autism, so parents and guardians need to recognize the key differences to help professionals with their diagnosis. While both might struggle with attention, people with ADHD have a hard time when asked to concentrate on a single task, so they tend to avoid tasks that require concentration. Meanwhile, a child with autism might stay hyper focused on a topic that interests them, while demonstrate trouble concentrating or even show signs of discomfort when asked to concentrate on things theyre not interested in. Kids with ADHD might talk quickly and loudly, wanting to have the last word or the first word in a conversation, while kids with autism may have difficulty expressing emotion or thoughts verbally. In addition, they may avoid eye contact and misunderstand social interactions.

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Is It Adhd Or Autism Next Steps

SUPPORT ADDITUDEThank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.

1 Lydia Furman, MD, Children with Both Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder- New Insights https://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/03/30/children-with-both-autism- spectrum-disorder-and-attention-deficit-disorder-new-insights-pediatrics-3-30-18

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Level : Requires Substantial Support

People with ASD level 2 will have more obvious problems with verbal and social communication than those diagnosed with level 1. Likewise, they will find it harder to change focus or move from one activity to the next.

Children with level 2 tend to have very narrow interests and engage in repetitive behaviors that can make it difficult for them to function in certain situations. For example, they may pace back and forth or say the same thing over and over again.

A person diagnosed with ASD level 2 tends to speak in simple sentences and also struggles with nonverbal forms of communication.

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Accommodations For Aspergers At School

Schools are getting better at providing services for children diagnosed with autism. Many schools offer pragmatic language therapy, which helps a child learn the basics of social interaction. Look for friendship groups or a lunch bunch. Parents should make sure that social skills accommodations are part of their childs individualized education program .

Many autistic children can lead independent lives parents and professionals can help parents and professionals can work together to help children advocate for themselves as they approach adulthood.

Eileen Costello, M. D., is a member of the ADDitude ADHD Medical Review Panel.

Social Communication / Interaction Behaviors May Include:

Making little or inconsistent eye contact
Tending not to look at or listen to people
Rarely sharing enjoyment of objects or activities by pointing or showing things to others
Failing to, or being slow to, respond to someone calling their name or to other verbal attempts to gain attention
Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation
Often talking at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a chance to respond
Having facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what is being said
Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like
Having trouble understanding another persons point of view or being unable to predict or understand other peoples actions

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Why Parents Miss Signs Of Aspergers Syndrome

Parents may be slow to pick up the signs of autism enumerated above. A child with distinct special interests, like dinosaurs or cloud formations, may seem delightful to an adult, but odd to another 7-year-old. When a child goes to preschool, social difficulties become more evident. Typically, kids with behaviors associated with AS find it difficult to make friends. They have a hard time reading other people or understanding humor.

Most children with autism want to make friends, but frequently dont know how. Their poor conversation skills and difficulty reading social cues can lead to loneliness or a mood disorder as they go through middle school.

Getting The Proper Support

The first step in helping your child get the proper support is getting a correct diagnosis. You may need to seek out a child behavior disorder specialist.

A lot of pediatricians and general practitioners dont have the specialized training to understand the combination of symptoms. Pediatricians and general practitioners may also miss another underlying condition that complicates support plans.

Managing the symptoms of ADHD can help your child manage the symptoms of ASD, too. The behavioral techniques your child will learn may help lessen the symptoms of ASD. Thats why getting the proper diagnosis and adequate support is so vital.

Behavioral therapy can be helpful for ADHD, and is recommended as the first line of support for children under the age of 6. For children over the age of 6, behavioral therapy is recommended with medication.

Some medications commonly used to treat ADHD include:

methylphenidate
mixed amphetamine salts

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Percent Of Autism Add And Adhd Cases Linked To Birth Injuries

Autism spectrum disorder , attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are developmental delay disorders. As the name ASD implies, a diagnosis is not the same for everyone. The cognitive and psychological impairments can range from mild to severe. A child may even go undiagnosed because the symptoms can masquerade as character traits or are written off as bad behavior.

A study conducted by several medical researchers and doctors looked for the source of these disorders, and they found it to be in the form of a birth injury. In fact, researchers found that at least one type ofinjury occurred in 80 percent of the cases studied involving these disorders.

A wide range of injuries, fromimproper use of forceps to the failure to monitor a babys oxygen levels, were linked to the developmental delay disorders. Some of these injuries are not immediately obvious, so how do you know what to look out for as a parent? There are a couple of different stages:

Immediately after birth: Neurological damage can present within 24-48 hours after an injury occurs. When children cannot keep food down, cry excessively, arch their backs when lying on their side or move their arms and legs in an unbalanced manner, they could have suffered a neurological injury.

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What Are The Possible Signs And Symptoms Of Asd Vs Adhd

ADHD & Autism Spectrum Workshop

Possible signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder may include when a child:

Seems disengaged.
Avoids eye contact and/or physical contact.
Has difficulty following directions due to speech and language delays.
Has emotional outbursts or tantrums.
Has anxiety, frustration, and communication difficulties.
Has difficulty socializing.
Shows self-soothing behaviors that are often repeated .
Has obsessive interests.
Has difficulty understanding nonverbal cues.
Has difficulty with safety/danger awareness.

Possible signs and symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may include when a child:

Is forgetful and easily distracted.
Has trouble listening and following directions.
Shows frustration or lack of impulse control that can lead to emotional tantrums.
Has inadequate organizational abilities and difficulty completing tasks.
Has difficulty staying focused.
Has problems sitting still during quiet activities .
Has difficulty being patient/waiting for turns.
Is hyperactive.
Interrupts others and blurts out inappropriate things.
Has difficulty with nonverbal cues and personal space impulsivity.
Has difficulty understanding the consequences of actions.
Plays rough and takes physical risks.

Effect of both conditions on a childâs early life

ASD:

Poor social communication skills and rigid behaviors, making it difficult to establish and sustain friendships.

ADHD:

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A Peek Into Prenatal Hazard Elements

A few pre-birth and perinatal inconveniences have been accounted for as could be expected under the circumstances chance components for extreme autism.

These hazard components incorporate maternal gestational diabetes, maternal and fatherly age more than 30, seeping after first trimester, utilization of physician endorsed drug amid pregnancy, and meconium in the amniotic liquid.

While research is not decisive on the connection of these elements to a mental imbalance, each of these variables has been recognized all the more as often as possible in extremely introverted youngsters contrasted with their non-extremely introverted kin and other regularly creating youth.

What Research Is Being Done

The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. The NINDS is a component of the National Institutes of Health , the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world. NINDS and several other NIH Institutes and Centers support research on autism spectrum disorder.

Nearly 20 years ago the NIH formed the Autism Coordinating Committee to enhance the quality, pace, and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism. The NIH/ACC has been instrumental in promoting research to understand and advance ASD. The NIH/ACC also participates in the broader Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee , composed of representatives from various U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies, the Department of Education, and other governmental organizations, as well as public members, including individuals with ASD and representatives of patient advocacy organizations. One responsibility of the IACC is to develop a strategic plan for ASD research, which guides research programs supported by NIH and other participating organizations.

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What Role Do Genes Play

Twin and family studies strongly suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism. Identical twin studies show that if one twin is affected, then the other will be affected between 36 to 95 percent of the time. There are a number of studies in progress to determine the specific genetic factors associated with the development of ASD. In families with one child with ASD, the risk of having a second child with the disorder also increases. Many of the genes found to be associated with autism are involved in the function of the chemical connections between brain neurons . Researchers are looking for clues about which genes contribute to increased susceptibility. In some cases, parents and other relatives of a child with ASD show mild impairments in social communication skills or engage in repetitive behaviors. Evidence also suggests that emotional disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia occur more frequently than average in the families of people with ASD.

What Are The Similarities

Certain aspects of both autism and ADHD overlap and may appear to be one or the other. Unfortunately many kids with autism end up misdiagnosed as having ADHD, but not many kids with ADHD experience the same. Both conditions can have limited social understanding of their behaviors and the effect on others. People with either condition may appear to have trouble with paying attention to certain things, although people with ADHD have a very different experience with their attention. Overall, they have symptoms that appear to be similar, but can be drastically different in certain aspects.

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