Where autism and attention deficit meet

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Decoding the overlap between autism and ADHD

Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often coincide, but the search for common biological roots has turned up conflicting evidence.

By Ricki Rusting
7 February 2018 | 13 min read

‘Baby sibs’ who evade autism remain at risk for attention deficit

Sally Ozonoff is looking for early signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in videos of hundreds of younger siblings of children with autism.

By Hannah Furfaro
13 February 2018 | 4 min read
newscast scene, two men with documents

Inside Scoop From the Autism Anchors: The attention deficit-autism overlap

Raphael Bernier and James Mancini describe the similarities and differences between autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

By Spectrum
14 February 2018 | 1 min read

From the archives

child in bathtub with a cut on elbow

Problems with attention, not autism, predispose children to injury

Young children with autism sustain injuries primarily because of co-occurring attention deficit.

By Emily Anthes
27 November 2017 | 4 min read
Boy staring at fidget spinner

Risk genes for autism overlap with those for attention deficit

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may carry certain rare, harmful mutations in many of the same genes as people with autism.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
25 November 2019 | 4 min read

Shared genetic pathways underlie autism, attention deficit

A trio of studies make the strongest case to date for shared genetic roots between autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

By Bahar Gholipour
18 May 2017 | 5 min read

Medication, parent coaching quell hyperactivity in autism

A drug called atomoxetine eases hyperactivity in children who have both autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
1 November 2016 | 4 min read

Some children may truly outgrow autism

Children who officially lose their autism diagnosis show no residual signs of the condition.

By Nicholette Zeliadt
19 October 2016 | 3 min read

Common brain signature marks autism, attention deficit

Children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder all show similar disruptions in brain structure.

By Ann Griswold
8 August 2016 | 3 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Psychiatric problems common in siblings of people with autism

Mental health conditions crop up more than twice as often in families that include a child with autism as in the general population.

By Ann Griswold
23 June 2016 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Clinical acumen key in discerning autism, attention deficit

A widely used diagnostic test for autism can reliably distinguish the condition from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, but not always.

By Ann Griswold
4 March 2016 | 4 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Attention deficit may mask autism, delay diagnosis

Children who have both attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism receive their autism diagnosis an average of four years later than those who have autism alone.

By Rachel Nuwer
26 October 2015 | 5 min read
Spectrum from The Transmitter.

Questions for Deborah Fein: Defining ‘optimal outcome’

Understanding why some children appear to outgrow their autism diagnosis may provide clues about the biology of the disorder but shouldn’t dictate treatment decisions, says Deborah Fein.

By Jessica Wright
3 March 2015 | 8 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Abstract illustration of a human brain.

‘Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders—and How We Can Change That,’ an excerpt

In her new book, published today, neuroscientist Nicole Rust takes us on her personal quest to spell out the brain research community's "Grand Plan."

By Nicole Rust
10 June 2025 | 9 min read
Illustration of an open journal featuring lines of text and small illustrations of eyes and mouths.

Convergent effects of autism-linked genes in zebrafish; and more

Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 9 June.

By Jill Adams
10 June 2025 | 2 min read
Research image containing repeated structures, suggesting potential image manipulation.

More than two dozen papers by neural tube researcher come under scrutiny

One of the studies, published in 2021 in Science Advances, received an editorial expression of concern on 21 May, after the journal learned that an institutional review of alleged image problems is underway.

By Claudia López Lloreda
9 June 2025 | 6 min read