Autism in relation to ADD

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I, too, have been diagnosed with ADHD and HFA. I also have a nice case of depression to top it all off.
With GA's help, I am coming to terms with it and gradually learning that it can be special.
Together, I think we'll make a great team.

You bet

I was diagnosed with ADD at age 5. But according to my mother, that was a misdiagnosis. I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 12, which was changed to Autism Spectrum Disorder at age 17. (now 22)

The DSM is not God. It can be wrong. Which is why it is frequently revised. The US are more sticklers for not dxing an ASD and an Attention Deficit Disorder together, but even though the ICD stipulates the same thing, Europe and the rest of the world don't follow it as much. You'll find dxes of an ASD and either ADD or ADHD occuring a lot more frequently together outside of the US.

Use the DSM, but don't rely on it. And use your eyes, Neant. If the symptoms are there, they are there. The main reason they've stipulated that an ASD and ADD or ADHD can't occur together is because there's so much potential to misdx the lot of them for the other. That's the only reason. They wanted to simplify it for the diagnostiticians. But they can occur together and frequently do. And I hope one day that ridiculous and blind criterion is torn from those books.

I've ranted more than enough on this topic. I'll just say that as long as you have understanding, it doesn't matter what the name of something is or what a doctor has diagnosed you with. As long as there's inderstanding and the ability to cope, a dx has little use.

Is that because Autism involves hyperfocusing; and ADD is an inability to focus?

If it is, couldn't you be able to hyperfocus on some things (i.e., Aspie "specialist subjects") and have trouble paying attention to others--thus "ADD"?

Or do the professionals who think you cannot have both, believe that ADD in someone with autism is a feature of the autism and not ADD itself?

I think I have Some sort of mix between the two.Like I zone out sometimes and get easily distracted from most things.I Have no organization skills at all and im impulsive in social situations.Sounds like ADD right.But I stim,miss social cues,avoid eye contact,have a few tics,am obsessively interested in history,very logical and(when i can)do things very mithodicly(spelling?).What do i want to be labled?Don't really care to tell the truth,i'm just trying to live my life

Hold UP
First off, isn't it pure fact that every aspie is different? I mean saying that each and every one is focues and attentive is a stereotype. Also, they only pay attention to specific things, such as color and other related types. ADD patients mainly aren't responsive to something as much as they could be, and they will lose that attention. AS patients may do the same, and also may not respond to a person when they are beng spoken to for a different reason. Anyway they have the Autism Spectrum for a reason, because no peroson is the same, but they can be similar.
-JERICK

oh, and
P.S. um i have both disorders
ADD-formally Dx'ed
AS-not yet, but will be

There was a rather interesting book that I saw a couple of weeks ago about some surprising parallels between ADHD/primarily inattentive and AS. Unfortunately, I don't remember the title or author.

Dual Diagnosis (and that has a differnt meaning in clinical settings i might add) i am fairly open minded too. I am open to their being people who are AS plus another neurodiverse condition.

For me I get immensely sketpical of multiple diagnosis which I have come across here in the Uk. I mean I can't really form what exactly this person would act like if they are...and I'll use a personal example here

Severe Dyspraxia
Dyslexia
Aspergers
Tourette Syndrome
ADD
ODD
OCD

....What kind of person would you expect to see...I can't concieve it and im not sure how they got this diagnosis

Neant, have you read my profile? I'd love to see you guess my personality.

I know I've ranted tons on this topic, but I'm way too lazy to look them all up right now.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child and then ADD as a tween and finally Asperser as a teen. So yes I think there is a direct correlation for both disorders. Sometimes maybe symptoms can even be mistaken for each other. My mother is Dyslexic and ADHD and she can go on for hours talking about subjects that interest her and only her. She has no theory of the mind; she misconstrues every social rule and situation; and she has sensory dysfunctions mainly with light and sound. Based on this I guess she would seem like a total aspie but neither her doctor nor her psychologist has brought up this possibility. Sometimes I doubt that I am autistic because I can’t remember any details with Rain Man accuracy, I’m messy, untidy, and I really have a hard time sitting still during lectures without doodling or something.

I can't sit still either...And I'm hardly the cleanest person ever... :: looks around the messy half-cleaned room ::...

Also..What is a "tween"?