Reply to Might this be ADHD? How do we explore a diagnosis if so?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Op I’m confused. you say she has no ADHD symptoms and list symptoms commonly associated with autism but you think are ADHD?[/quote]

Where did you get that from?  She has plenty of ADHD symptoms, just not 6 of them in a single category.

And I would be absolutely shocked if she is autistic-- she's very sensitive to non-verbal cues, has lots of friends, doesn't really stim or have intense special interests, really no tell-tale signs except being on the sensory-sensitive side of things but it's not extreme and that's certainly not something exclusive to autism.[/quote]

Everything you listed that you “read about” being associated with ADHD but isn’t actually part of the DSM criteria dor ADHD is actually part of the DSM criteria for autism. Sensory sensitivity, rigidity (her insistence on justice, low frustration tolerance), literalness in communication style(mad when she doesn’t get a joke).

This is just to say stop trying to diagnose your kid based on blogs or what you read on Reddit or whatever. take her to an actual doctor.

I also wonder why you seem offended by the observation that she fits autism criteria better. [/quote]

I'm not offended at the idea of her being autistic, I just don't think it fits her very well-- her only characteristics that might point in that direction are things that are also common in ADHD, as well as not uncommon in the general population even if she doesn't have ADHD.  She's socially skilled and perceptive, and doesn't have a literal communication style at all (you may have misread-- she doesn't struggle with understanding jokes, it's that she's disappointed and frustrated when we don't think her jokes are as hysterically funny as she hoped we would, which she picks up on based on the subtleties of our tone of voice and facial expressions even if we laugh and say the right things and do find it kinda funny)... I don't think she comes anywhere close to meeting even one of the social/communication criteria for autism, let alone all three.

But yes, I'd very much like to have an expert involved in assessing her rather than drawing these conclusions on my own. I just need help figuring out where we could go that's actually the right fit for this particular situation.  [/quote]

Again the things you list as ADHD are not actually in the DSM under autism. the things you list are more similar to autism. You listed several restrictive-repetitive behaviors and especially sensory issues which are almost paradigmatic for autism. I’m not saying she has autism - in fact it sounds like you are overly concerned - but to the extent you are listing a set of subclinical symptoms, it is more like autism than ADHD. (FWIW kids with autism can have friends and be perceptive about feelings especially when they are taught to observe them.)

Unless you are leaving a lot out it doesn’t seem like you kid really has big issues so suggest you just work on addressing the challenges she has. She can learn appropriate reactions to disappoint without a dx. [/quote]

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