Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorders.
One in three adults with autism screen positive for ADHD, yet their attention pattern differs from classic ADHD, so always screen and adjust supports.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Wilmut et al. (2013) asked adults with autism if they also had ADHD symptoms. They compared these adults to adults who already had an ADHD diagnosis.
The team used rating scales and short attention tasks. They wanted to see how many adults with autism met the cutoff for ADHD and how their attention looked on tests.
What they found
More than one in three adults with autism scored high enough to match ADHD criteria. Yet their attention test patterns were not the same as adults who only had ADHD.
Some tasks showed small differences, others showed none. The mixed picture means you cannot guess ADHD status from autism alone without direct screening.
How this fits with other research
Bramham et al. (2009) and Sofronoff et al. (2011) earlier showed that adults with autism are slow but accurate on inhibition tasks, while adults with ADHD act fast and make more errors. Wilmut et al. (2013) widened the lens and found the same groups also differ on everyday ADHD symptom counts.
Green et al. (2015) looked at the flip side—kids with ADHD—and found medium-level autism traits. That seems to clash with the small, mixed effects seen here in adults. The gap disappears when you note age: kids show bigger overlap, adults show subtler overlap, so screening rules must match the client’s age.
Hanson et al. (2013) surveyed 1,838 children with autism and saw only 2% meet strict ADHD criteria when both parent and teacher agree. Kate’s adult rate is much higher, reminding us that single-informant adult self-ratings can inflate numbers.
Why it matters
If you serve adults with autism, add a quick ADHD screener like the ASRS to your intake. Expect about a third to flag, but know that attention test scores may look odd—slower, not impulsive. Use this info to plan longer response windows in tasks and to refer for medication or coaching when symptoms climb. Do not rely on child data or single checks; re-screen at transitions like college or new jobs.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impairments on neuropsychological, tests of attention have been documented in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). To date, there has been a lack of research comparing attention in adults with ASD and adults with ADHD. In study 1, 31 adults with ASD and average intellectual function completed self-report measures of ADHD symptoms. These were compared with self-report measures of ADHD symptoms in 38 adults with ADHD and 29 general population controls. In study 2, 28 adults with a diagnosis of ASD were compared with an age- and intelligence quotient-matched sample of 28 adults with ADHD across a range of measures of attention. Study 1 showed that 36.7% of adults with ASD met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria for current ADHD "caseness" (Barkley Current self-report scores questionnaire). Those with a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified were most likely to describe ADHD symptoms. The ASD group differed significantly from both the ADHD and control groups on total and individual symptom self-report scores. On neuropsychological testing, adults with ASD and ADHD showed comparable performance on tests of selective attention. Significant group differences were seen on measures of attentional switching; adults with ADHD were significantly faster and more inaccurate, and individuals with Asperger's syndrome showed a significantly slower and more accurate response style. Self-reported rates of ADHD among adults with ASD are significantly higher than in the general adult population and may be underdiagnosed. Adults with ASD have attentional difficulties on some neuropsychological measures.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2013 · doi:10.1002/aur.1283