ADHD OF ASPBERGERS

[elizabeth8459]

I have a friend with a child diagnosed with ADHD in 2000 but after spending much time with him myself and his mother think he may have some form of Autism can anyone give advice on whether their children aged 11 or similar has gone from ADHD to Autism over the years. The behaviour,tantrums etc he is currently on 40mg of Ritalin and 25mg of Amitriptyline and this is only just touching him in the calming down side. Any advice would be grately appriciated cheers guys Elizabeth8459 x x x x

[lil_me]

My son has been diagnosed so far with both ADHD and ASD, he is going through a complete assessment at the moment which is going to involve about 20 hours assessing with a child psychologist who specialises in ASD. My son also takes Ritalin but in the Concerta XL slow release form now and the only part of his behaviour it calms is the hyperactivity and it helps increase his concentration level.

 

What someone has suggested to me who works as a pharmacist is Ritalin and other ADHD drugs can increase the symptoms of ASD, I am unsure how correct this information is in a medical sense but I do find my sons obsessions become even stronger when he has taken his medication, hence I only give him it when he has to goto school usually.

 

When you look through the diagnostic checklist many traits overlap.

 

I have just started reading 'The ADHD Autism Connection' which is a book which discusses the links from what I have read so far and makes me ask the question of is ADHD just another part of the Autistic Spectrum.

 

I would ask for a referal to a psychologist either just child or educational and explain the concerns to them. A miss diagnosis is about as much use as no diagnosis.

Edited July 15, 2005 by lil_me

[mossgrove]

Our 5 year old has been doagnosed with Autism and ADHD.

 

His consultant has invited us to consider medication, but has warned us that certain ASD behaviours (Such as rigidity) may become more prominent.

 

Drugs like Ritalin have a long track rcord when treating ADHD, but have no effect on Autism, so the effectiveness or otherwise of these drugs may provide a pointer to which diagnosis is appropriate. They are not mutually exclusive!

 

Simon

[loulou]

Hi,

 

Kai (nearly 7) has ADHD and ASD. He was on on Ritalin, but like Simon said, it made him much more obsessive and anxious, although it did calm down his hyperactivity.

 

It's very hard sometimes to tell whether the behaviour is ADHD, ASD or just plain naughtiness! He is very rude at the moment, answering back all the time and can be pretty aggressive. He wants his own way ALL the time.

 

He's now on Straterra which is a non-stimulant for ADHD. Apparently it works better on children with ADHD and autism. It takes a few weeks to work, so we haven't seen any changes yet.

 

I'll keep you posted,

 

Loulou x

[lil_me]

Let me know how it goes please loulou, we're in the first week of trying concerta, my sons much happier, but I am always interested to see how these other meds are working

[elizabeth8459]

Thanks for all your replies guys much appriciated my mate has tried to answer you but it wont let her reply at present, so im doing it for her she says all your advice was very good, she is currently thinking of getting a good opinion on her son she and i also really think he may be on the Autistic spectrum the 40mg's of Ritalin is only just touching him so were sure this is a sign of Autism his tempers are very much those of what you could call Autism ones and many just say he is a naughty boy (if only they knew) He is going up to high school in September and we are both worried of what this will bring ( hasw anyone got tips on how to help Autistic children changing schools how to keep it as stress free as possible ) Thanks guys keep up the good work

PS if you see my mate logged on with questions she is in here as Tiny x x x x x x Elizabeth8459 x x dx

[Elouise]

Sam was diaognosed as having severe ADHD before he was 2....OMG....he slept less than 2 hours per 24...was into everything and was as restful and destructive as Taz to live with...by three he had aspergers syndrome on top.

And has dismantled one TV crews camera, assulted one journlaist and put two social workers on long term sick with his constant screaming...that boy can do cyclical breathing and take it form me it adds a whole new dimension to non stop screaming.

 

We tried melatonin which settled him into a four hours a day sleep pattern. Ritalin....he was up and down like a yoyo. Concerta XL which turned him into a very hyperfocussed and paranoid aspergers *eek*.

 

We gave up and screamed for the local Autistic Primary School to give him a fulltime nursary place to extend his then life expectancy whilst he climbed up the bookshelves and headed for their roof. Thanks tyo PECS; TEACCH and some of the most patient nursary teachers and speech language therapists Sam managed to conform his behavour and prove he was a genuis trapped in word finding difficulties his ADHD means he problem solves very fast and his ASD gives him a focus on subjects that interest him. Again its unusual to have a child with these two disabilities that can enhance their life.

The ADHD helps him be more socialable because he tends not to overanalyse and worry and the ASD helps him to think rationally and logically at high speed whilst he is heading into trouble.

 

 

It takes nerves of steel to parent Sam on his bad days. He no longer takes drugs for the ADHD as for now the ASD is balancing the worst of the ADHD though whenever he has sat for 10 minutes he does need to run round the playground.

He is at a mainstream school where the majority of the staff treat him as an overactive eccentric charmer (which he can be) and make sure they take it in turns to deal with him; not something I can do at home.

 

Yes you most certainly can have ADHD as the first diaognosis and the ASD found later. Its rather unusual for a child of 2-3 to get such a diaognosis so it does not surprise me that you have experianced the time gap you have.

Its a fine line treading between the behavour of ADHD and ASD. Some times its not too bad other times its awful depending on which bit is bouncing off which bit combeined with if anything went wrong for Sam that day or if he did not sleep or...

 

Hope things do work out for your friend.

[Tiny]

Hi guys thanks Elizabeth8459 for showing me this site its great to know there are peeps out there that know what its like to have a child with ADHD ,we have tried the concerta xl but he was that badly behaved on it i was in tears ,school was ready to throw him out of school last summer but there was light at the end of the tunnel we have just had his year 6 sats results he went up 3 levels in maths an science and 2 levels in english i was so happy .Now we have to settle him at high school in september ps also my son as just been changed from Melatonin as it was not working and he wandered around the house at 3 in the morning he is on 40mgs of Ritalin throughout the day and 25mgs of Amitriptyline at night life is a little better thanks again for all your help xxxTinyxxxxx

[sylv]

Same is here. Nick is 9 years old, was seeing a psychologist with the age of 4 because he showed lots of behaviour problems in playschool. This psychologist told me once that Nick shows autistic traits, but no one did digg deeper in the country were Nick was dx ADD.

 

Now living in the area my husband was growing up since last year November we have seen CAMHS and the doctor there said too Nick shows autistic traits. I also think taking Methylphenidate makes the ASD side worse.

 

I have observed my son and still do even I research. We are glad when we will get the referal to see a specialist for autism who probably can tell us more.

 

They anyway say that ADD/ADHD and Autism are so close...which not always is true. I've got the book "The ADHD - Autism Connection" from Diane M. Kennedy which helpes me a little.

 

One thing I am very sure about that our kids are so special for us and also if they are "hard work" sometimes we love them in a special way. I will defend my son always and had heartbreaking experiences already.....

 

SylvXXX

[Tiny]

Thanks sylv am off to get that book an have a read ,they are hard work but very loveable cheers for all the help xxTinyxxxx

[admum]

My son has a dx of adhd aspegers and dyspraxia. I found the Diane Kennedy book v interesting and also Lisa Blakemore Browns book reweaving the autistic tapestry.

[sylv]

I have the book from Lisa Blakemore as well admum...but havent started reading yet, because I wanted to finish one first...but thanks you are the second person who recommands it!