Abstract
Autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often co-occur. This survey of 288 New Zealand parents of children diagnosed with autism (n = 111), ADHD (n = 93), or both conditions (n = 84), examined the relations between age of diagnosis and early atypical development, the age specialist consultation was needed and types of specialists seen. Co-occurring autism and ADHD was associated with an earlier ADHD diagnosis and a later autism diagnosis. Parents of children with both diagnoses reported less atypical development in language and social behaviours compared to parents of children of autism, and this co-occurring group also experienced longer wait times to diagnosis, and saw more types of specialists prior to a diagnosis, than those with autism.
Highlights
IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both neurodevelopmental conditions
Autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both neurodevelopmental conditions
Research suggests children with both diagnoses receive their ADHD diagnosis between 1 and 1.8 years earlier than ADHD only children (Sainsbury et al, in press). This may be because autism is developmentally apparent earlier and co-occurring ADHD could be diagnosed sooner due to earlier health seeking (Jensen & Steinhausen, 2015)
Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are both neurodevelopmental conditions. Miodovnik et al (2015) found that children with co-occurring autism and ADHD who received their ADHD diagnosis first, waited an average of 3 years longer for the additional diagnosis of autism. This was consistent across childhood and independent of the severity of symptoms. Research suggests children with both diagnoses receive their ADHD diagnosis between 1 and 1.8 years earlier than ADHD only children (Sainsbury et al, in press) This may be because autism is developmentally apparent earlier and co-occurring ADHD could be diagnosed sooner due to earlier health seeking (Jensen & Steinhausen, 2015)
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