This is longer than you'll want it...
ADHD is a condition of the brain. It can be physically measured in different areas and seems to be largely genetic in origin. Many people aren't diagnosed until adulthood, but many, many pieces fall into place.
Now, the ADHD/ASD thing. It started with research that revealed many of the same areas of the brain are affected by both ASD and ADHD, meaning they have some overlapping traits. And they found out that 50-70% of those with ASD (remembers, Asperger’s is no longer recognized) were also co-morbid for ADHD.
This is interesting, because people have taken that to mean ASD-ADHD is a common diagnosis. It isn’t, or shouldn’t be. Because what the research does not indicate is anything suggesting those with ADHD also have ASD. For instance, we also know that ADHD is prevalent among addicts as well, again because the same structures and neurochemicals are involved. Does that mean everyone with ADHD is also and addict? Of course not. So it works in one direction, but not the other, as far as we can tell. ADHD is a condition affecting executive function and working memory; ASD is a lifelong, nonprogressive neurological disorder . Both are considered neurodevelopmental, but that doesn’t indicate relationship.
So if ADHD is not commonly seen with ASD and is ADHD is thought to affect only 11% of children and 5-6% of adults, who are all the millions running around posting ADHD vids and talking about ADHD? People who’ve either never been properly diagnosed or followed-up with (ADHD often resolves in adult years). Or they’re the ones buying into this new wave of pop psychology, online assessment, diagnosis and med management. You can get amphetamines through the mail now with a script. These “assessors” are often college-aged or master’s level. They and their companies only make money by diagnosing new cases (their services are subscriptions based). And anyone who thinks a person can be properly assessed and all pertinent issues covered by phone is naïve. We have to see how ADHD interacts with so many other aspects; it has to be clinically distressful (lost jobs, bad relationships, etc.). Beware of the new freelance model of mental health. Mental health shouldn’t be as easy as Uber Eats and for every great counselor out there, we’ve had the guy who diagnosis ritual satanic abuse.
Lastly, empathy is not a hallmark of either ASD or ADHD. Here are other non-symptoms you might hear about:
Dinosaur arms (can be a trait of ASD)
Patterns on the tongue
Enjoying heavy-beat or bi-lateral music
Sleeping with wrists bent
If you think you should be tested, by all means to it because you have nothing to lose. Do it if you have great trouble with your working memory or are noticeably sensitive to criticism. If you lose track of time consistently or have a significant procrastination issue. Everyone walks into a room and forgets what they went in for. ADHDers do it literally almost every time. Every.single.time.
If this is you, there are answers, and not are all habit-forming meds; some don’t use meds at all but ADHD is an issue of dopamine deficiency. We’re learning more about these conditions every day. If you get tested, you might find symptom relief with a qualified mental health professional. Good luck. The testing, by the way, is super-easy,
