Alaska Neuro/Therapy Center

10/09/2022

Autism vs. ADHD 2.0. I've updated my original Autism vs. ADHD diagram and made a few minor edits and changes after consulting with others (thanks Schwartz-Psyd); I've also edited it for visual clarity.

**Full write-up see full blog post: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/misdiagnosis-monday/adhd-vs-autism

Overview:

ADHD & Autism co-occur at high rates. In some ways, they can present very similarly; in other ways, they are quite opposite. A person can also be both Autistic and ADHD (🙋🏼‍♀️) Basically, these things are clear as mud.

Overlapping Diagnosis:
⁠
💙 An estimated 22-83% of Autistic children meet the criteria for ADHD⁠ (Sokolova et al., 2017)
💙 An estimated 30-65% of ADHD children have significant Autistic traits⁠ (Sokolova et al., 2017.
⁠
Overlap⁠ping Traits:

💚 Executive Functioning challenges(may include difficulties w/ organizing tasks, object permanence, memory, focus, decision-making, & regulating attention)⁠

💚 Social Cognition: Both struggle but for different reasons. For the ADHDer--related to inattention & impulsivity. For the Autistic, related to difficulties w/ intuitively picking up social cues/body language/understanding pretense.⁠

💚 Interoception-the “8th sensory system,” refers to the ability to sense internal signals (i.e., signals associated with elimination, hunger, thirst, & emotions). Interoception is integral to the ability to regulate emotions. A person with poor interoception will have more difficulty registering and responding flexibly to their internal states & emotions.⁠

💚 Emotional regulation difficulties: Due to various factors (brain circuitry, interoception, rigid nervous systems, & sensory sensitivities)⁠

💚 OCD: Increased risks of OCD (Between 30-50%)⁠

💚 Alcohol addiction 5-10 x more common among ADHDers/2x more common among Autistics⁠

💚 Increased risks of self-harm/suicide⁠

💚 Greater gender diversity (Trans/genderqueer/non-binary) among both (6-7x higher)⁠

💚 More likely to be non-het (15-35% Autistics), ADHDers, higher % bisexual⁠

🌈 Dr. Neff

www.neurodivergentinsights.com
⁠

03/10/2022

A very good article about differences in brain structure that also includes information on emotional control in the ADHD brain.

New research suggests that ADHD comprises several meaningful subgroups — each one tied to a weak c***ection in the brain’s neural networks. Mapping the regions of the brain that control attention, impulsivity, and emotion, can help explain why scientists are studying the “white matter” c***e...

02/19/2022

Hyper focus is a real thing.

Hyperfocus, a common — but confusing — symptom of ADHD, is the ability to zero in intensely on an interesting project or activity for hours at a time. It is the opposite of distractibility, and it is common among both children and adults with ADHD. Learn how to harness it.
👉 https://www.additudemag.com/understanding-adhd-hyperfocus/

02/19/2022

Blackout!

02/01/2022

02/01/2022

Inattentive ADHD (often called ADD) manifests as forgetfulness, disengagement, or distractibility, and can be mistaken for anxiety or a mood disorder in adults. In children, it may resemble a learning disorder. Here, we take an in-depth look at inattentive vs. hyperactive symptoms of ADHD.

09/29/2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/neurofeedback-brain-fog-mental-health/2021/09/17/d05e849a-e4e4-11eb-8aa5-5662858b696e_story.html

Most people, even many doctors, haven’t heard much about the treatment and it hasn’t been subjected to rigorous clinical tests. But it has given me relief.

04/30/2021

Soothing, effective fidgets for students with ADHD who focus best when they are chewing, squeezing, picking, or — yes — spinning.

04/29/2021

ADHD is sometimes impossible to miss — and other times far too easy to overlook. The children who exhibit stereotypical symptoms (i.e. hyperactivity or impulsivity) are often diagnosed, while those with not-so-obvious signs (i.e. emotional dysregulation or sleeplessness) may be misdiagnosed into a...