Traits of Autism Seen in Some Kids with ADHD

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By Rachael Rettner
published

A boy slumps at his school desk, hiding his face.
Children with ADHD and traits of autism are more likely to have problems in school than children ADHD and no autistic traits, a new study finds. (Image credit: <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=84767782&src=id'>Discouraged student photo</a> via Shutterstock)

Nearly one in five children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have traits that are common among children with autism, and having these traits appears to increase children's risk of experiencing impairments in their everyday lives, a new study suggests.

Among children in the study with ADHD, 18 percent had autistic traits, while less than 1 percent of children without ADHD had such traits.

Children with ADHD and autistic traits were more likely to get in fights, be rejected by their peers, and have problems in school and with their siblings, compared with children with ADHD who did not have the autistic profile, the researchers said in their study. [Typical Toddler Behavior, or ADHD? 10 Ways to Tell]

Those with both ADHD and autistic traits were also more likely to have other psychiatric conditions, such as disruptive behaviors, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and language disorders.

The study included 240 children with ADHD, and 227 children without the condition. Most of the children were between ages 8 and 14; parents answered questions about their child's behavior.

The researchers assessed whether children exhibited symptoms similar to those seen in children with autism, such as withdrawnness and social disability, although none of the children in the study had symptoms that were severe and frequent enough to be diagnosed with autism.

Previous studies have found that certain genetic changes are present in both children with ADHD and children with autism, suggesting the two conditions may share a common origin, according to the researchers, who were led by Amelia Kotte, an ADHD researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Identifying children with ADHD who also have autistic traits may help researchers develop treatments for these particular children, according to the study. For instance, their treatment may need to have a greater focus on expanding social skills.

Because the study involved mostly white children, the findings may not apply to other ethnic groups.

The study is published today (Aug. 26) in the journal Pediatrics.

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Rachael Rettner
Rachael Rettner
Contributor

Rachael is a Live Science contributor, and was a former channel editor and senior writer for Live Science between 2010 and 2022. She has a master's degree in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a B.S. in molecular biology and an M.S. in biology from the University of California, San Diego. Her work has appeared in Scienceline, The Washington Post and Scientific American.