Autism and ADHD symptoms

Posted on 02 Oct, 2024 | 4:18 PM

Key notes: For parents, autism, ADHD, symptoms, NHS advice, contacting for assessments

Read time: 3-4 minutes

Sometimes it can seem like your child isn’t reacting to situations in the way you would assume them to. If this is the case, they might be presenting autism or ADHD, so it is important to be able to identify the symptoms to allow an early diagnosis to be received. In this blog the symptoms for both these neurological disorders are listed and what can be done if you suspect your child might have either condition.

Autism

Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others and how they communicate, learn and behave. All symptoms can be found on the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs/children/), but the main ones are as follows:

In children, autism is often seen when the child:

  • doesn’t respond to their name (by 9 months of age)
  • avoids eye contact
  • gets upset at certain tastes, smells or sounds
  • repeats movements like flapping their hands
  • doesn’t play pretend by 4 years of age
  • repeats phrases, called echolalia
  • does not show facial expressions such as happy, sad, angry and surprised by 9 months of age
  • lines up toys or other object and gets upset when the order is changed

In teenagers, there is often a difficulty with social interactions and communication meaning:

  • making friends is more difficult
  • social cues are often misunderstood
  • there can be an inflexibility or rigidity of thought often known as ‘black and white’ thinking
  • sensory processing difficulties such as experiencing sensory overload and being unable to cope in crowds can arise
  • emotional difficulties such as low self-esteem, mood and depression can occur but without the desire to express or label these emotions

Most people with autism have other related characteristics such as:

  • Delayed language skills
  • Delayed movement skills
  • Delayed cognitive or learning skills
  • Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behaviour
  • Epilepsy or seizure disorder
  • Unusual eating and sleeping habits
  • Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
  • Unusual mood or emotional reactions
  • Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
  • Lack of fear or more fear than expected

If these symptoms persist, a paediatrician should be consulted to consider an autism diagnosis. This will involve a multidisciplinary team usually containing a paediatrician, psychologist, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and (sometimes) a child psychiatrist who will perform a variety of tests and assessments to determine if the child has autism.

ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a chronic brain condition that makes it difficult for children to control their behaviour. All symptoms can be found on the NHS website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/) but not all children with ADHD have all the symptoms. They tend to be classified as inattentive only (ADD), hyperactive/impulsive or combined inattentive/hyperactive/impulsive.

ADD symptoms include:

  • finding it difficult to pay attention
  • often daydreaming or getting distracted
  • being disorganised and leaving tasks unfinished
  • forgetting things or avoiding doing them due to ongoing mental effort

Hyperactive symptoms revolve around being in constant motion:

  • being unable to stay seated
  • talking fast
  • running/ jumping/ climbing when not permitted

Impulsivity symptoms include:

  • acting or speaking without thinking
  • running into the street without looking at traffic
  • being unable to wait or not taking turns
  • interrupting others

If these symptoms are regular for more than 6 months, occur in at least 2 different settings, and developed before the age of 12, a paediatrician should be consulted to consider an ADHD test.

Comorbidity and dealing with symptoms

50-70% of individuals with autism also present comorbid ADHD; this is known as AuDHD. Due to this, it is important to be able to identify the comorbid symptoms if you believe your child might possess both. While diagnoses are usually done one at a time, you can request a second assessment if you believe comorbidity is likely.

The comorbid symptoms include:

  • difficulty making decisions
  • poor time management skills
  • inattention
  • atypical movements such as fidgeting or stimming behaviours
  •  social difficulties
  • sensory sensitivities
  • intense focus on specific interests
  • rejection sensitivities
  • sleep issues
  • emotional dysregulation
  • possessing differences in learning style

Managing symptoms as a family can be difficult, so it can be helpful getting advice from the doctor who might be able to prescribe medication or refer you to talking therapy and/or coaching. Regular exercise and mindfulness can help reduce stress associated with the symptoms. It is also often beneficial to set consistent daily routines and plan events with visual timetables. There are plenty of resources available to read for further information (listed at the end), these include books you can read with your child and more clinical-oriented resources. Providing short breaks between activities and using sensory strategies such as wobble cushions can help deal with overwhelming sensations, and stimulation should be kept at a low level, for example allowing your child to only play with one friend at a time. All support should be taken step-by-step, focused on the child’s needs.

Resources

NHS autism symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/signs/children/

Autism symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html

NHS ADHD symptoms: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/symptoms/

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