Are Aspergers And ADHD The Same?

Asperger’s Syndrome (Aspergers) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are both neurological conditions that stem from brain development. Aspergers and ADHD both occur early in a person’s life and can have similar behavioural traits. Since 2013 Aspergers has been categorized under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), rather than being a separate disorder.

While those with Aspergers share symptoms that are associated with ADHD, researchers now regard them as different conditions with different causes. While both are neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD does not fall into the category of autism. ADHD is a far more common condition than Aspergers with 9% of children suffering from the condition while only 1% to 2% have Aspergers.

Individuals with Aspergers generally find it difficult to understand or respond to social norms. They can also often become overly focused on an object or topic in contrast to a person suffering from ADHD who finds it difficult to focus their attention and has problems with impulsivity but otherwise functions normally in social settings.