The Difference Between ADHD and Autism

By Amanda Morin

Trouble paying attention to people. Being constantly on the move. Invading personal space, not reading
social cues well and having meltdowns. These can all be signs of both ADHD and autism. And the two
conditions can occur together.

The signs of autism, also called autism spectrum disorder or ASD, can range in severity. While ADHD
(also known as ADD) isn’t a spectrum disorder, like autism it can produce a range of symptoms. And
each symptom can cause a range of difficulty from one child to the next. So what’s the difference
between ADHD and autism?

This table breaks down some of the key differences between them.

ADHD Autism

A neurodevelopmental condition that A range of neurodevelopmental

What is it? makes it hard for kids to concentrate,
pay attention, sit still and curb
impulsivity.
conditions that causes challenges with
social skills, communication and
thinking. Repetitive behaviors are also
part of autism spectrum disorder
(ASD).

/
 ADHD
Seems forgetful, easily
Signs you distracted or daydreamy
may notice,
depending on Appears not to listen and has
your child trouble following directions
Is prone to tantrums and
meltdowns due to frustration or
lack of impulse control
Struggles with organization and
completing tasks
Has trouble staying on task
unless an activity is very
enjoyable
Struggles with social skills
Struggles to sit still during quiet
activities, such as mealtimes or
during independent work time at
school
Has trouble waiting his turn and
being patient
Is constantly “on the go” or
moving; fidgets and needs to
pick up and fiddle with
everything
Interrupts people, blurts things
out inappropriately and may
struggle with nonverbal cues
Acts without thinking and may
not understand the
consequences of his actions
May overreact to sensory input,
like the way things sound, smell,
taste, look or feel
Plays roughly and takes physical
risks
Autism
Avoids eye contact and/or
physical contact
Has delayed speech (or no
speech) or repeats phrases over
and over
Is prone to meltdowns due to
sensory processing issues,
anxiety, frustration or
communication difficulties
Gets upset by changes in routine
Struggles with social skills
Uses excessive body movements
to self-soothe (e.g., rocking,
flapping hands)
Has obsessive interests and
experiences perseveration
Is constantly “on the go” or
moving; fidgets and needs to pick
up and fiddle with everything
Is very advanced verbally, but
struggles with nonverbal cues
Has trouble showing
understanding of other people’s
feelings and his own
Reacts strongly to the way things
sound, smell, taste, look or feel
(sensory processing issues)
Has trouble with safety and
danger awareness
/
 ADHD
Trouble following social rules can
Possible make it hard to make and keep
emotional friends. Frequent negative feedback
and social for acting out or not paying attention
impact can impact self-esteem and
motivation, making a child feel he’s
“bad” or “no good.” (Read more
about ADHD and emotions.)
Pediatricians, neurologists,
Professionals developmental-behavioral
who can help pediatricians, nurse
practitioners, child psychiatrists:
Diagnose ADHD and prescribe
medication. Can also look for
other issues like anxiety.
Clinical child psychologists:
Provide behavior therapy to
teach kids to manage their
actions and interactions. Provide
cognitive behavioral therapy to
help with emotional issues
related to their ADHD. Diagnose
ADHD and mental health issues
that may co-occur, like anxiety.
May also evaluate for learning
issues.
Pediatric neuropsychologists:
Diagnose ADHD and common
mental health issues that may
co-occur. May also evaluate for
learning issues.
Educational therapists and
organizational coaches: Work on
organization and time
management skills.
Autism
The main struggles of ASD involve
social understanding, communication
and repetitive routines or behaviors.
Many kids with ASD—even those
without significant cognitive
challenges—have trouble making
friends, understanding how to relate to
other people and making sense of
social cues.
Pediatricians, neurologists,
developmental-behavior
pediatricians, child psychiatrists
and psychologists: Identify
possible signs of autism and may
diagnose. May also refer for early
intervention services.
Clinical child psychologists,
social workers: Provide therapy or
social skills training to help kids
improve social interactions.
Provide cognitive behavioral
therapy to help with emotional
issues related to autism. Diagnose
other issues that may co-occur
with autism, including ADHD. May
also evaluate for learning issues.
Pediatric neuropsychologists:
Diagnose autism and common
issues that may co-occur, such as
anxiety and ADHD. May also
prescribe medication as needed.
Occupational therapists: Help kids
learn coping skills for challenging
situations. Provide sensory
integration therapy or a sensory
diet to help kids respond to
sensory input in more appropriate
ways.
Speech therapists: Work on
speech-language and pragmatic
language skills to help kids
communicate and understand
others more easily.
/
 ADHD
A child might be eligible for an IEP
What the under the category of “other health
school may impairment.” Accommodations can
provide also be provided under a 504 plan.
Examples might include:
A seat close to the teacher and
away from distractions
A quieter work space to get work
completed without distraction
A signal, nonverbal cue or
picture card to get the child’s
attention
Help breaking long assignments
into smaller chunks
Written or picture schedules for
daily activities
Movement breaks
Autism
A child might be eligible for an IEP
under the category of “autism.”
Special education may be provided
along with accommodations. They are
very specific to each child, but
examples can include:
A seat closer to the teacher and to
classroom materials
A work space with limited auditory
and visual distractions
Visual prompts and color coding
to highlight and teach new
information
A sensory diet and activities
throughout the day
Social stories to present new
ideas and situations
Being provided with choices to
ease anxiety
Being provided with “wait time”
/
 ADHD Autism

Set clear rules and expectations Set clear expectations and create
What you can for your child. daily routines.
do at home
Create daily routines to provide Break directions into smaller
structure. chunks and use picture prompts.

Break directions and tasks into Have a plan to manage

smaller chunks. meltdowns.

Teach your child to use visual Use a visual timer or signal to

prompts like checklists, picture
schedules and sticky notes to
help him focus, stay organized
and get things done.
Allow for flexibility during
homework time for brain and
movement breaks.
Create an organized homework
and study area.
Give advance warning about
changes in the schedule and
explain what to expect in new
situations.
make it easier to transition from
one thing to the next.
Role-play and teach scripts for
social situations.
These are some common examples.
But because ASD looks so different in
each child, the support provided at
home varies a lot from child to child.
Parents will often work with a
psychologist or other clinicians to
create a support plan.

Learn more about how ADHD is diagnosed and how to avoid ADHD trouble spots. Read one mom’s
story of having kids who have both ADHD and autism. And get more tips to help with ADHD at home,
along with strategies to help kids manage sensory processing issues.

About the Author

Amanda Morin worked as a classroom teacher and as an early intervention
specialist for 10 years. She is the author of The Everything Parent’s Guide to
Special Education. Two of her children have learning differences.

Reviewed by
Elizabeth Harstad, MD, MPH, is a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Boston
Children’s Hospital.

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