You’d think I would know this but..... | Autism PDD

Is ADD & ADHD considered ASD ?

If so, is that part of the reason that the autism rate is so high ?

NO it is not, but it could be someday. It is neurologically based as is ASD'S. There is somethinking that they both have the same root but there is no proof. The truth is that most kids dx'd with any sort of ASD have some ADD/ADHD. However MOST of those diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have no ASD issues. In other words, ADD/ADHD is the much larger category and there is some overlap with the ASD category. They are two differenent dx's, but ADD/ADHD is considered a common "comorbid" disorde with ASD.I asked this question when I went to visit Dr. Ritvo--he said there has been a
lot of research in this area, and no links have been found yet. I have ADD,
so I thought perhaps it was related to my sons ASD. So far the answer is no,
but it is interesting how many studies have been done to try to find a link.We also asked the Geneticist in Denver and the autism specialists of North Carolina this, and they said ABSOLUTELY NOT. ADD and ADHD are NOT 'mid brain injury' and autism is. Autism is literally a difference in the brain, add and adhd are not. They do not come with quirks or ever with MR on any level, autism (especially the more severe end) often comes with m.r. and autism almost always comes with quirks. There are many huge differences!

We just saw the neurologist at a major children's hospital for a diagnosis on Tuesday. She was telling me the symptoms of ADHD and I was amazed that my son had almost all of them. I never noticed that before. It was kind of funny, though, because I said "but he's not hyperactive" and she looked at me like I was nuts! Yes, he was rather hyper there, but he's not at home!

He did get a PDD-NOS diagnosis, but not ADHD.