Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recently released a study where they stated that children with autism are prone to being over diagnosed with ADHD due to deficient diagnostic tools. The study leader, Benjamin E. Yerys, PhD, believes it is a crucial finding since ADHD medications do not necessarily work as well on people who have been diagnosed with autism.
Do you know someone with ADHD and autism? They may have been over diagnosed.
ADHD and autism are over-diagnosed.
The researchers involved in the study believe that the over diagnosis can be decreased if the manner in which questions used in ADHD and autism screenings are rephrased. Too many questions are of the yes or no variety. Therefore, screening questions that allow for more nuanced answers could lead to more accurate diagnoses.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be over diagnosed in children with autism because of insufficient diagnostic tools, according to a new study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert
Key takeaways
- ADHD is often over diagnosed in children on the autism spectrum.
- New tests and ways of diagnosis show how different ADHD and autism is but also why people seem to jump to overlap the diagnosis.
- Not all doctors can diagnose autism or ADHD. However, parents advocate and often get referred to specialists because the medical world is not perfect.
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Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.
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A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.
