Expert: Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP - 10/1/2008

Question
is asberger and add the same thing i have a step son who is 19 teen and his  doc say he has asbergerbhut when he was 10  is other doctor say he has add so could of he delelope that growing up or asberger is the same thing is a.d.d   thank you

Answer
Dear Darlean,

Thanks for asking me your question.  I apologize for the delay in my response.  I had some difficulty with my server.  

Asperger's syndrome is NOT the same as ADD.

There are things that look the same, but there are many things that are different.

Things that are similar-
Have problems organizing
Have problems making friends and socializing
Can have problems with school work

With Asperger's syndrome, it is on the Autism Spectrum.  It is like oranges and ADD is like a apple.  They are both fruit but not the same kind.  

I really couldn't do a good job of explaining all the differences here - but usually people with asperger's syndrome stay to themselves more often, can have a big vocabulary and often have anxiety.  Asperger's doesn't develop - it is usually there, but as someone gets older and is compared to his peers the patterns are evident that he is different.  

What test was he given to determine he had Asperger's syndrome?  

You can go to a site called do2learn.com than can tell you more about both ADD and Asperger's syndrome.  It is possible that you so has both ADD and Asperger's syndrome.  

Thanks again for asking me your questions.

Many Blessings to you.

Christine