Expert: Paul Johnson - 3/7/2008

Question
What is the difference between autism and add. How do i know if I have add or autism. what are the symptoms of add and what are the symptoms of autism.

Answer
Hey JD,

Thank you for your thoughtful and challenging question. I am
delayed in answering this question due to a small crisis that reqired much of my energy this past week.

I very much like your question. I think it is an importand and significant though subtle distinction betweeen the two diagnosis.

First I would like to preface the answer by stating there is something in our brain called executive functioning. This aspect of the brain allows people to make choices that is very important.
The executive functioning helps us to decide what is a priority and what is not. It is what helps us organize all of the important thoughts and sort through them in our mind. Those with poor executive functioning will appear to be very disorganized.

The diagnosis of ADD has been very popular in the last decade or two. The diagnosis of Autism has been very rare up until the last handful of years. The behavioral choices of individuals that appear to be impulsive and disorganized will be thought of as being ADD.
However it might be Autism. Most people who have been diagnosed with Autism over the last 10 to 15 years were likely first diagnosed with ADD. Naturally a person can be both ADD & Autistic.

With any Autistic Spectrum Disorder there are three things we like to consider before giving the diagnosis of an ASD. Communication deficts, Repetitive behaviors, and social skill deficits. Not only will this person appear to be disorganiized and impulsive, there is likely to have some challenges in the 3 area laid out above.

Simply put An ASD appears to be ADD but there is much mopre going on in the person's decision making that has to be accounted for to understand their thinking pattens and set of behaviors.