ADHD and Autism Overlap

Plain-language summary

Research suggests there's a significant overlap between ADHD and autism, making it challenging to tell them apart, especially in adults. While some symptoms appear similar, the underlying reasons for these behaviors can be quite different. It's important to remember that these are distinct conditions that can also occur together.

Key findings

• Both ADHD and autism can present with difficulties in social interactions and communication.
• A key difference often lies in the nature of empathy: individuals with autism may struggle with understanding social cues, leading to "cognitive empathy" challenges, while individuals with other conditions like psychopathy may have an "emotional empathy" deficit, meaning difficulty feeling what others feel.
• For children and adolescents, understanding how ADHD affects social and non-social autism symptoms can provide valuable insights into their combined presentation.
• Although both conditions can coexist, it is important for healthcare professionals to differentiate between ADHD and autism to ensure accurate diagnoses and appropriate support strategies.

Studies cited (8)

1. ADHD and autism: differential diagnosis or overlapping traits? A selective review — Taurines R, Schwenck C, Westerwald E (2012, Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders, review)

   DOI: 10.1007/s12402-012-0086-2

2. [Differential diagnosis of psychopathy and autism spectrum disorders in adults. Empathic deficit as a core symptom] — Hansman-Wijnands MA, Hummelen JW (2006, Tijdschrift voor psychiatrie, review)

   BACKGROUND: There is an overlap between the symptoms of psychopathy and autism spectrum disorders. AIM: To contribute to an adequate differential diagnosis of these disorders. METHOD: We reviewed the literature with the help of PubMed, using as key words: 'empathy', 'psychopathy', 'autism', 'aggression' and 'antisocial' for the period 1980-2004. We also consulted papers listed in the bibliographic references for these articles. RESULTS: Empathic deficit is a core symptom of both disorders. In psychopathy there are signs of an emotional empathic deficit, an inability to feel along with another

3. An update on the comorbidity of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its clinical management — Petruzzelli MG, Matera E, Margari L (2026, Expert review of neurotherapeutics, other)

   DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2025.2599856

4. The differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in adults — Carroll HM, Thom RP, McDougle CJ (2025, Expert review of neurotherapeutics, other)

   DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2025.2490533

5. Social and Nonsocial Autism Symptom Domains in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Insights into Their Symptomatological Interplay — Mack JT, Wolff N, Kohls G (2023, Psychopathology, other)

   DOI: 10.1159/000520957

6. The Role of Diagnostic Instruments in Dual and Differential Diagnosis in Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan — Shulman C, Rice CE, Morrier MJ (2020, Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2020.01.002

7. Autism Spectrum Disorders and ADHD: Overlapping Phenomenology, Diagnostic Issues, and Treatment Considerations — Antshel KM, Russo N (2019, Current psychiatry reports, other)

   DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1020-5

8. Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity among children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability — McClain MB, Hasty Mills AM, Murphy LE (2017, Research in developmental disabilities, other)

   DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.09.009