ASD or ADHD

[Saragrl]

I posted this on an adhd group, but I would be interested in input here.

I recently went to a specialist for an autism evaluation. During the first interview I mentioned I was diagnosed with adhd as a child. He asked why I am not diagnosed with it now and I told him my therapist said I don't. He seemed like he thought other wise. I have anxiety, depression, and was diagnosed BPD which after recovery from a break down I had no longer applies.

I looked at many posts here and I noticed while I do have a couple symptoms, like being messy and not able to follow instructions, I don't have most others. Attention and sitting for long periods are not an issue.

What info I can't seem to find is ADHD relating to my primary issues. Like the instructions issue is only verbal, I can't remember words, only pictures related to the discussion. During the interview I was given 2 short stories to remember and speak them back, but I was only able to remember a handful of words. While I was able to remember and redraw almost every image in a different test.

I am also completely rule based, and honest to a fault. Like at work I do an awesome job, but always get in trouble cause I speak up when something is wrong or against the rules. Also I need to have exact rules and expectations of my position, or I am useless. I can't say how many times I have been in trouble for not doing something even though I was not told to do it.

I don't understand others. I get along well in a structured environment like work, but in the real world I feel like I don't belong. Like the world is a big movie and someone forgot to give me a script. I need lots of time to myself after being around people.

Last of all I am a person of routine. I need the same days off. Plans outside of routine can only fall on Thursday. I follow the same route to and from work. Eat the same breakfast and only a handful of different dinners (right now 2).

I have been misdiagnosed twice in my life and want to know if these aspects are also symptoms of ADHD.

 

[Ereth]

My psychologist suspects I could have ADD (not the same as ADHD, but still) as well as ASD, so it's possible that ADHD is comorbid with ASD. I'm by no means an authority on this, though. I need to find more information.

 

[wyverary]

There's a lot of nuance involved here, far more than my layperson's perspective could provide. I was diagnosed with ADD at 12, and then with Aspergers and Nonverbal Learning Disorder at 16. I can't help but wonder how much overlap there is, and how much of it depends on the bias of the evaluator and the information the parents provide.

I can relate to the messiness, hoo-boy!

 

[Saragrl]

There's a lot of nuance involved here, far more than my layperson's perspective could provide. I was diagnosed with ADD at 12, and then with Aspergers and Nonverbal Learning Disorder at 16. I can't help but wonder how much overlap there is, and how much of it depends on the bias of the evaluator and the information the parents provide.

I can relate to the messiness, hoo-boy!

One thing I don't get is he did not ask to speak to my parents. Granted I am 35 years old, but I spoke to my mother before the assessment and she had no issues with talking to him. To me that tells me he had his mind made in the first 10 minutes. I know I am different then others, but I never thought so different he could read it like that. Guess I will just have to wait and see. Longest week of my life.

 

[Saragrl]

Also the ADD forum has 60+ reads and no responses to this post. So it seems (so far at least) no one with just ADD is like this.

 

[etbe]

I've read lots of reports of Aspies being misdiagnosed with ADD or ADHD.

I was in my late 30's when diagnosed but the psychologist still took input from my parents and other people who had known me for a long time. In any but the most obvious case the psychologist should seek input from parents when doing a diagnosis.

 

[Saragrl]

I did get my diagnosis today. I apparently was over thinking because I was anxious. With my test scores all past the thresholds for ASD and very poor verbal cognitive scores along with his personal experience (his primary focus is ASD), my personal childhood experiences also pointed to it as well. I am thinking he did not need to seek out my parents since there really was not any conflicting evidence.

 

[Peace]

It sounds to me like you may have Aspergers. As far as anything else goes, it's anybody's guess, but I would be leery of any 10 minute diagnosis.
Also, Add is probably mis named, as pointed out to me by my therapist. We do not have an attention deficit, but more like a hyper focused attention. So much so that we cannot pay attention to anything else.

 

[Saragrl]

Also, Add is probably mis named, as pointed out to me by my therapist. We do not have an attention deficit, but more like a hyper focused attention. So much so that we cannot pay attention to anything else.

He said my diagnosis most likely came from having poor verbal cognitive abilities. I can't seem to remember words and that in turn made it look like I was not paying attention.

 

[Anon88]

When I was in high school I remember this guy who I very much suspected had ADHD. To me it was so obvious and I'm sure it was to the other students as well. But out English teacher was such a jerk to this kid. He always acted like the poor kid was this huge trouble maker. He'd get so upset that the guy couldn't be still, couldn't focus on whatever we were doing in class, and couldn't stop talking and interrupting him that he would become this petty person. He'd start putting the kid down in front of the whole class and purposely trying to embarrass him. The final straw was near the end of our senior year, when he degraded him in front of the entire class, made him cry and then kicked him out of the class, sending him to the principals office for detention. What a JERK. It was so obvious the kid needed help. Why not just pull him to the side and speak with him directly. Get the parents involved. Something. Anything. I hated that guy. I heard he retired a year after I graduated. I doubt anyone shed a tear. Most students couldn't stand him. Should've thrown a party.

 

[Saragrl]

Poor kid, those experiences are horrible. I had a gym teacher like that, would call me a sissy and gay to the rest of the class. It was so hard on me I failed the school year and became mute at school. Also I was chased home and bullied every day.

 

[Anon88]

Poor kid, those experiences are horrible. I had a gym teacher like that, would call me a sissy and gay to the rest of the class. It was so hard on me I failed the school year and became mute at school. Also I was chased home and bullied every day.

Damn. That's messed up. It's crazy because I used to think that kids were the only bullies I had to worry about in school but in reality it was teachers AND kids. And for the students with disabilities it's like you either got lucky and had ppl who were kind enough to recognize the problem and help you. OR ppl were afraid to stand up for you, no one gave a damn and you were subjected to torture and embarrassment. I still remember the way that poor kid ran out in tears. When he came back to class days later he hardly spoke the rest of the year. I hope someone finally recognized his ADHD and got him the help he needed.

 

[Saragrl]

When he came back to class days later he hardly spoke the rest of the year. I hope someone finally recognized his ADHD and got him the help he needed.

I hope so too. Life is much harder when you are different and you don't know why. I know I felt like I was going through life being randomly punished. I am sure he had no idea he was upsetting the teacher.

 

[wyverary]

Poor kid, those experiences are horrible. I had a gym teacher like that, would call me a sissy and gay to the rest of the class. It was so hard on me I failed the school year and became mute at school. Also I was chased home and bullied every day.

Wow. I mean, I've had the stereotypical jerk-butt gym teacher or two (lots of wonderful kind nice ones, I should add, too), but...how can could that asshole hold onto their job if any of the kids spoke up to another teacher or administrator?! Kids are awful enough without the teachers adding to the bullying!

 

[NewOldAspie]

I had

Poor kid, those experiences are horrible. I had a gym teacher like that, would call me a sissy and gay to the rest of the class. It was so hard on me I failed the school year and became mute at school. Also I was chased home and bullied every day.

I had HS teacher/coach that was villain of existence. I suffered nasty migraines I attributed to him also. He should have been fired for it. I remain troubled 30 yrs after from his interaction.